The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster 



were employed in the industry. 



Above the "Narrows", when the tide is out, to this day 

 can be seen the remains of many old dikes. This shows 

 the result of dream.s that did not come true. This sys- 

 tem of grading and diking was done by early pioneers 

 whose names I never knew. But it is evident that the 

 dikes silted with fine mud and sand, that oysters did not 

 do well, and that the owners became discouraged and 

 abandoned them. It illustrates that conditions must be 

 right to grow Olympia Oysters with success. If not, much 

 hard work and expense will be wasted. This was true in 

 many other places where native oysters were not found 

 and artificial methods were used. The pioneers had to 

 learn the hard way, the trial and error method. 



IN LITTLE SKOOKUM BAY. 

 Little Skookum Bay is a long and narrow Bay, ex- 

 tending in a northwesterly direction into Mason County. 

 It divides from Oyster Bay at Old Kamilche. The tidal 

 waters run swift in places; in other places it widens out. 

 Here the tide flats are more level and adaptable to the 

 cultivation of oysters. Likewise, other natural conditions, 

 such as salinity, water temperature, and oyster food, 

 were always favorable both for seed setting and the 

 growing of a good Olympia Oyster. 



Native oysters were found there by the first pioneers. 

 U'lyssus (Les) Young and Dan Lynch were the early 

 pioneers of that bay. Dan Lynch passed away in the early 

 days. His two sons, Dan and Jerry took over the oyster 

 beds. They have both died, and the beds have been divid- 

 ed between Dan Lynch, Jr. and his sister, Mrs. Frank W. 

 Bishop. 



(110) 



