Ko. 6.] WHITEAVES — MARINE EISIIERTES. 34T 



proved, and new beds formed, the day will soon come wlien the 

 oyster beds of the Dominion will cease to produce. Our neigh- 

 bours of the United States tell us that Virginia alone possesses 

 more than one-and-a-half millions of acres of oyster beds, and, 

 notwithstanding the fact that 03^sters increase much more rapidly 

 in the warmer waters of Virginia than they do in this latitude 

 the authorities of that State have expressed their fears that the 

 oyster beds of Virginia, if left open to the world, and dredged at, 

 all seasons of the year, will become extinct." 



" The rivers and estuaries of this Island are admirably adapted 

 for the cultivation of oysters. The oysters found in its bays are 

 not to be excelled in flavour, and if fished late in autumn they 

 will keep good for months. I see no reason why hundreds of 

 thousands of acres of oysters beds should not be formed in these 

 bay*^, which would produce vast quantities of oysters in quality 

 much superior to the oysters of A'irginia. The material for the 

 formation of such beds is at hand in the ancient ones ; and oys- 

 ters with which to sow them could be had at little cost during 

 the warm calm days of summer." 



''We have a 'close season,' from June until September, but 

 the law prohibiting fishing during this season is openly violated. 

 Oysters are caught and exposed for sale in every month in the 

 year, and salmon are destroyed upon their spawning beds with 

 the utmost impunity. I shall be happy to hear that the Domin- 

 ion Government have resolved to enforce the laws for the pro- 

 tection of oysters, salmon and trout. We now form part of the 

 Dominion, as you know, and have a right to look for wiser legishi- 

 tion and a better administration of law." 



"You inquire — 'do you think oysters, would thrive in some- 

 what deeper water than that in which they are now found, if 

 sown there?' I think they would thrive in the deepest part of 

 any inland water, if placed upon suitable ground." 



In another letter received later, Mr. Pope expresses the hope 

 that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries will think proper to 

 appoint a commission to report upon the oysters and oyster fish- 

 eries of the Island, and intimates that in such an event he would 

 have no objection to give his services gratuitously. 



The only oyster beds which we were able to examine at all in 

 detail were those in Shediac bay. On these grounds, in very 

 shallow water, the dredge came with the bag more or less full of 

 oysters, or rather of oyster shells (for upwards of ninety per cent. 



