SHELLFISH RESOURCES OF THE NORTHWEST COAST OF THE 



UNITED STATES/ 



By Charlks H. Edmondson, 

 Temporary Assistant, U. -S?. Bureau of Fisheries, 1917-1919. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 1 



Shellfish resources of major importance 3 



The Coos Bay region 3 



The Siuslaw region 5 



The Yaquina region 8 



Netarts and Tillamook regions 12 



The Clatsop County region 15 



Tlie Southwestern Washington region 17 



Shellfish resources of minor importance IS 



Cannon Beach 18 



Nestugga Bay 19 



Siletz Bay 19 



Alsea Bay 19 



Winchester Bay 19 



The Bandon Beach 19 



Summary and conclusions 20 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the summer of 1017 the writer was appointed as temporary- 

 assistant hj the United States Bureau of Fisheries, which services 

 were renewed during the summer of 1918 and continued at intervals 

 through May, 1919. The specific purpose of the appointment was 

 to make a survey of the shellfish resources of the northwest coast of 

 the United States, including the shore line, bays, and rivers of the 

 State of Oregon and the southern portion of Washington. 



The undertaking being in the nature of a war measure, with the 

 ultimate purpose of food conservation in view, it was considered ad- 

 visable to first make a survey of the coastal region in order to de- 

 termine the varieties of shellfish existing, their relative abundance, 

 and their accessibility to markets or centers from which they might 

 be distributed, and to encourage the more general use of such sea 

 foods as clams, oysters, mussels, and other shellfish. 



It was also deemed advisable to make studies of the spawning 

 seasons of the common edible shellfish and learn, if possible, some- 

 thing of their rate of growth and the conditions under which they 

 best thrive, that such information might be available in the future 

 should it at any time be considered wise to undertake the cultiva- 

 tion of certain species of shellfish or to place further restrictions 

 upon the present rate of destruction. 



1 Appendix III to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1922. B. F. 

 Doc. No. 920. 



