IV 



CONSERVATION AND INCREASE OF PRODUCTION 



Restrictive Legislation. — From this brief review of the forces of destruc- 

 tion we must turn to the methods of conservation and of production. 

 In order to preserve the oyster fishery, the legislature has imposed certain 

 restrictions upon the fisherman, limiting the time, place and manner of 

 fishing, the size of oyster to be taken, the damage and obstruction to the 

 beds. Even before Confederation there had been acts passed in the colony 

 of Prince Edward Island to prevent burning of live oysters for lime, and 

 to limit the oyster fishing to the residents of the colony, as well as making 

 provision for the leasing of areas for oyster culture, and the spending of 

 $1,000 a year on the improvement of oyster beds. 



In the year following Confederation was passed "An Act for the 

 Regulation of Fishing and Protection of Fisheries," authorizing the 

 expenditure of any sum appropriated by parliament for the formation 

 of oyster beds, the transplanting of oysters, restocking and fixing a close 

 season from June 1st to September 1st. In 1885 the close season was 

 extended to Sept. 15th. In 1891 a portion of Shediac bay was reserved for 

 oyster culture. In 1892, oyster fishing through ice was prohibited. In 

 1893, the first code of regulations came into operation with regard to 

 fishermen, boats, licenses, close season, prohibiting night fishing, Sunday 

 fishing, and winter fishing, specifying the size of oyster to be taken (2 

 inches for round and 3 inches for long oysters), requiring that small oysters 

 be returned to the water, though small sizes maybe fished for transplanting, 

 prohibiting the use of rakes and forbidding the digging of mussel mud 

 within 200 yards of live oyster beds. In 1894, Tracadie harbour (Antigo- 

 nish CO.) was reserved. In 1904, the close season was extended first to 

 Sept. 22nd, and then from May 21st to Sept. 22nd, and the size limit 

 changed to 3 and 3^ inches. In 1907, the close season was made from 

 April 1st to Sept. 30th, and only tongs and rakes permitted. In 1901, 

 the first regulations were enacted against the quahaug fishery. 



The effect of legislation has been to check the rate of decline by reduc- 

 ing waste and injury, and in this manner to prolong and preserve tlie 

 oyster-fishery. To have maintained the fishery for forty years is some- 

 thing, but it is not enough. A catch that may have satisfied the demand 

 at one time is barely capable of provoking an appetite at the present day. 

 The number of oyster consumers has been increasing with the population 

 and the facilities for shipping, but the number of oysters fished, so far 

 from keeping pace with the number of consumers, has actually diminished. 



