58 THE ECOXOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



one and his neighbor, and laws for the rational protection of 

 the fishery have been imperfect or provided no means for 

 their own enforcement.* There is bylaw a close season, from 

 June 1st to the loth of September, but is only jiartially 

 observed. The true condition of affairs has been repeatedly 

 pointed out by the Fishery Inspectors, and remedies suggested 

 by them. Mr.. W. H. Venning, Inspector for New Brur)swick, 

 lias urged year after year the necessity for government inter- 

 ference, and Mr. J. H. Duvar, Inspector for Prince Edward 

 Island, in his very full reports for 1880-87 has repeatedly 

 summarized the whole matter. To the easily accessible reports 

 of these two Inspectors,! and to that of Mr. Whiteaves, all 

 •mentioned below, those interested in the subject should turn. 

 In Prince Edvvard Island, and to a certain extent in the 

 other Provinces, the value of Oysters as food is rivalled by the 

 value of their shells as a fertilizer. In the estuaries are im- 

 mense deposits of dead shells, the remains of old beds killed 

 by silt or other causes. These are mingled with fine rich 

 mud and decomposing animal and vegetable matter, forming 

 a muck of the richest character. Before the plough the shells 

 break up and give the land the lime in which Prince Edward 

 Island is very deficient. This mud is known as Mussel- 

 mud, though in most cases it consists almost entirely of Oyster- 

 shells. It is taken by large machines worked on the ice by 

 horses. As to its value, Mr. J. Hunter Duvar, in his report 

 •for 1879, says: — "The digging of Mussel-mud for manure — 

 Mussel-mud being the shells of old Oyster-beds — is very harm- 

 ful to the live beds, but it is scarcely to be doubted that the 

 ■benefit to the country is of more absolute value than the pre- 

 servation of the Oyster;" again in 1880, "It is not saying 

 too much to assert that the product of grass and grain has 



*Mr. J. H. Duvar writes,— " In the present unsatisfactory and muddled state of 

 1he Oyster-law in Prince Edward Island, nobody will risk private Oyster-beds, but 

 1 have on file over thirtj' applications for sites for culture so soon as the Department 

 •will decide on places." 



tThose of Mr. Duvar, especially, are admirable expositions o' the state and 

 needs of the Canadian Oyster-flshery, and have been much consulted in the pre- 

 iparation of this paper. They are written by one personally familiar with the 

 .subject. 



