54: THE EC0:N'0MIC MOLLUSCA of ACADIA. 



water for their development. A competition must therefore- 

 be going on between the two, which can eventually result in- 

 but one way — the extinction of the southern forms. 



But does this all mean, that our beds are being exterminated 

 by a power quite beyond man's control? If so, what would 

 be the use of Oyster-culture in our waters? 



It is true that the ultimate fate of the beds is probably to 

 be total extinction. Only a change in the present geological 

 processes of this region, a cessation or reversal of the present 

 sinking of the land, can save them. But it must be remem- 

 bered that the whole process is extremely slow; that it takes 

 time measured not by years but by centuries. It is so slow 

 that for all practical purposes it is theoretical rather than real, 

 and need not enter into the calculations of practical men. 

 Probably, aside from man's direct influence, i. e., as far as 

 natural conditions are concerned, there has been but little 

 change in the beds during the last two hundred years, and 

 there will be as little more during the next two hundred. 

 The very conditions which cause the destruction of old beds, 

 are making new localities available. There is no doubt, that 

 before man interfered, and to a certain extent now, new beds 

 form in new places as old ones are smothered out; and no 

 doubt there are, too, many places upon which new ones would 

 grow, if tides, currents or other agency would once place 

 oysters upon them. There is nothing, then, in the geological 

 history of the Oyster in Acadia, to discourage systematic 

 culture or vigorous efforts to protect and increase them 



It need hardly be mentioned here, that the only Oysters 

 in Eastern Canada are in the waters of Acadia. The following 

 table, compiled from the Dominion Fisheries Reports, shows 

 for a period of fifteen years, the value of the Oyster fishery to 

 each of the provinces and to all Canada.* They are officially 

 considered to be worih 13.00 per barrel, and dividing the 

 value by three will give the number of barrels. 



* There are Oyster-beds on our Pacific coast, but owiug to inferior quality 

 and lack of care, they are almost valueless. 



