THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 51 



worth over $13,000,000 annually,* more than three times the 

 value of the Cod-fishery. By far the greater portion of this 

 is from natural beds, eighty per cent coming from Chesapeake 

 Bay, They are exported to Canada and to Europe. There is 

 but little in the way of Oyster-culture. 



In France, elaborate systems of culture prevail, and natural 

 beds are also extensive; the total yield is about 18,000,000' 

 francs per year. The total yield from the beds of Great 

 Britain is estimated at from £1,000,000 to £2,000,000 worth 

 per year. Holland, Germany, Italy and other European 

 countries also have their beds, but their production is of less 

 value. The distribution of the common European Oyster 

 {Ostrea edulis), seems to correspond pretty closely with the 

 limits of those shores on which is felt the influence of the- 

 Gulf Stream, 



On the shores of Acadia, the Oyster has probably existed 

 much longer thaii man. No doubt the Indians have used it 

 from very ancient times. We are not able to find that lists of 

 the shells of any of the Indian shell heaps f which must exist 

 on our North Shore have ever been published, but they will 

 surely be found to contain many of the shells of this species. J. 

 A single specimen was found in a shell-heap ten miles east of 

 Halifax, and they are found in greatest abundance in the 

 shell-heaps of Casco Bay, Maine, though the Oyster is now 

 extinct there. 



*It has beeu estimated much higher than this; by one good authority at more 

 than twice as much. 



tMr. A. Leith Adams, in his "Field and Forest Eambles,"p. 35, says that he 

 examined shell-heaps on the islands in the Bay of Fundy and on the St. Croix River, 

 and in tliem occurred the Quahog and tlie Oyster. Other observers who have 

 examined these shell-heaps much more carefully than Mr. Adams had donfi, have 

 seen no trace of ether Quahog or Oyster. Mr. Adams' error is very unfortunate; 

 other writers have quoted and been led to wrong conclusions by him. 



X Denys seems to imply this. He says, referring to the regian about St. George's 

 Bay and the Gut. of Canso, " there are found an abundance of good and very large 

 Oysters, and of Mussels, still larger; and also an abundance of Shell-fish of all kinds, 

 good to eat, which are the most important means of subsistence of the savages 

 during the spring." 

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