56 THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



Prince Edward Island produces the greatest quantity ;: 

 New Brunswick comes next, and that of Nova Scotia is rela- 

 tively insignificant. The centre of the Oyster-trade in the first 

 of these Provinces is Summerside, and the greater part of the 

 supply is drawn from Eichmond Bay. King's County has- 

 very few or no beds. Formerly those of Malpeque and 

 Bedeque were very productive and highly esteemed. In New 

 Brunswick, the beds of Shediac and Cocagne have been the 

 most famous, and were among the earliest to become exhaust- 

 ed. Thirty or forty years ago, those of Caraquette and Ship-^ 

 pegan were the most productive, but to-day those of the latter 

 place yield but few, and Caraquette and Bay du Vin give the 

 largest returns. In Nova Scotia, the greater part are takea 

 in the Bras d'Or Lakes, at Grand Narrows, Washabuck, 

 Whycocomagh, River Dennis, etc., and at Tracadie, Pugwash,. 

 Wallace and Antigonish on the main land. 



In Prince Edward Island, it is estimated by Mr. J. 

 Sharp, cf Summerside, that about one thousand barrels are 

 required yearly for home consumption in the latter place, and 

 the same quantity in Charlottetown. Considerable quanti- 

 ties are also consumed at other places on the Island, but far 

 the greater portion are exported to New Brunswick and Nova 

 Scotia, and the upper Provinces. A few are exported to- 

 Newfoundland, and lately a few to Chicago and Milwaukee. 



In St. John, Mr. J. A. Turner estimates that no less than 

 ten thousand to twelve thousand barrels of Oysters are con- 

 sumed annually; of these all but about five per cent are 

 native, the United States Oysters being imported during the 

 close season and in the winter. The former cost about $2.50' 

 per barrel in St. John, and the latter from two to three times 

 as much. 



In Halifax, Mr. Wilson, a large dealer, thinks that from 

 one thousand five hundred to two thousand barrels are used 

 annually, and about twice that quantity in the entire Pro- 

 vince. About one-tenth or less of these are United States 

 Oysters; the remainder are the greatly preferred natives. 

 The latter cost about two dollars and fifty cents to importer 

 and three dollars per barrel to the consumer, while the former 



