The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster 



spawning period but the absence of any spawning in 

 1928 and the indications for a barren season in 1929 have 

 indicated that the wash water and considerable diluted 

 liquor discharged from the Rainier (1) plant into Oakland 

 Bay might be the contributing factor which is upsetting 

 oyster spawning conditions of the state owned reserves 

 and private oyster beds." (2) 



Experiments with Olympia Oysters and sulphite li- 

 quor were carried out by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 

 in 1930, at the request of local oystermen, under the 

 direction of Dr. A. E. Hopkins, recognized the world 

 over as one of the most brilliant acquatic biologists avail- 

 able. Dr. Hopkins summ.ary states in part, "The dilution 

 at which sulphite waste liquor toxicity ceases, when long 

 periods of exposure are considered, cannot be stated. 

 Only complete exclusion of liquor from oyster producing 

 waters can be considered as safe." (3) 



Waste sulphite liquor contains also certain wood su- 

 gar components which provides nourishment to a chain 

 diatom that grows naturally in the waters of Puget 

 Sound. 



This diatom (Melosira Borreri) normally "blooms" or 

 grows heaviest in the early springtime when nutrient 

 matter is conveyed to the Puget Sound waters by heavy 

 spring rains. When fed by waste sulphite liquor this 

 diatom will develop abnormally throughout all four 

 seasons. These growths have at times gathered in some 



(1) The name was later changec to "Rayonier" 



(2) Washington State Fisheries Annual Reports Nos. 36 and 37 



(3) U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Buttetin No. 6 — 1931 



(122) 



