REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CLXXI 



relating to bis efforts in oyster-culture in Hawaii, Mr. Colburn wrote 

 as follows : 



In the month of October, 1893, I imported from Mr. M. B. Moraghan, of San Fran- 

 cisco, three cases of oysters for the purpose of planting. Two of the cases contained 

 abont 1,000 eastern transplanted, and one case contained about 3,000 of the native 

 California. They -were brought down on the steamship JustraJla, in the ice-house, 

 and arrived in apparently good order. I at once had them removed to my pond at 

 Mauana Ewa, and planted in a depth ranging from 1 foot to 2 feet of water. 



Some three months after I made a thorough search of different places where I had 

 planted oysters, and found that the native California were all dead, and of the eastera 

 transplanted about 50 per cent were still living, thotigh considerably sunk into the 

 soft nmd at the bottom of the pond. I had these taken up and put down again, and 

 some three months afterward I examined them again and found they had started to 

 grow ; the new shell forming was easily noticeable. I continued my practice of taking 

 them up at different intervals of time until the early part of 1895, when I was so 

 elated with the prospect of my success that I made arrangements with Mr. Moragban 

 to send me down more eastern transiilanted, with two objects in view : (1) To have 

 fresh eastern oysters to supply the oyster-eaters of our city, and (2) to have them 

 answer for the purpose of seed for propagating. 



I imported 38,614 from San Francisco by the steamship Australia, having them 

 come in live different trips of the vessel. About two-thirds were brought down on 

 tlie open deck in boxes, and were wet down every morning when decks were being 

 washed down. The balance came in the ice-house. With the former way my loss 

 was more in number, but the latter way was the most expensive. On deck I could 

 get the oysters landed for about $10 a ton measurement, but through the ice-bouse 

 the charges were 5 cents a pound for freight. 



As fast as the oysters would arrive I would have them sent down to my pond and 

 laid out. In a month or so afterwards they would get very thin and be unfit for 

 the market. However, I allowed them to recuperate by getting acclimated to the 

 conditions of my pond as well as to the food. 



In the latter part of 1895 I discovered young oysters clinging to stones and dead 

 oyster shells. I have watched them very carefully and at different intervals of this 

 year I have found more young ones. Of course the young are not as many as I 

 would like to see, still I trust that in time I will be able to boast of a bod of 

 Hawaiian oysters reared from the seed of the American eastern oyster. From those 

 I have imported I am in a position to furnish to those desiring oysters a mess of them 

 fresh from the water. The last lot have been now about eighteen months in my pond 

 and are in fine and fat condition, having grown twice their original size. 



Fresh sea water empties into my fish-pond through gates and a large spring of 

 fresh water also runs into it, thereby making the water a little brackish. 



It will be seen tliat oyster-culture in Hawaii is of very modern date 

 and in an experimental stage. There is scarcely any doubt that the 

 waters are suitable for oyster-culture; the ancient beds and the experi- 

 ence of Mr. Colburn attest it, but further investigation is necessary to 

 discover the jjroper conditions for a commercial enterprise. 



I went over the oyster-beds with Mr. Colburn and we took from the 

 water both transplanted oysters and those that had been propagated 

 in the pond. When taken from the water they have a brownish appear- 

 ance, which upon inspection proves to be a mossy growth on the shell. 

 They are large, well rounded, and when opened beautiful in appearance 

 and of good flavor. They are planted in a fish-pond which is stocked 

 with mullet. The bottom is soft, and I believe covered with grass. The 

 gratings for tidal access are very small. 



