PROPOSED IMPROVED METHOD OF CULTURE 123 



of an oyster, as well as at the same time show how to conduct the essential 

 operations of oyster culture. For this purpose the Shediac reserve and 

 perhaps another in Richmond bay could be fitted up as demonstration 

 oyster farms and be used also as experimental stations to continue the 

 investigation of oyster questions, to test the application of new sugges- 

 tions and to reduce cultural knowledge to a system. In this connection 

 I may quote a statement by Winslow in 1884: "I know by experience 

 that the fishermen cannot be reached by anything written or said; they 



can only be taught by what I may call 'object lessons.' 



"The value of model and experimental stations is attested by the great 

 influence such establishments had in assisting the French oyster-culturists 

 in their efforts to re-stock the oyster beds of the French coast. In 1858, 

 there was a very great scarcity of oysters, and in consequence the Imperial 

 Government undertook the re-stocking of the beds and the establishment 



of oyster farms. To-day the waters of France are again prolific " 



It might be added that when once the fishermen have seen and handled 

 the objects, and have seen the methods applied and taken part in the 

 operations, they are then, and not until then, in a position to understand 

 and make use of suitable printed literature on the subject. 



