LXIV THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



twice as many as the Canadians. The conservation of these fisheries, 

 therefore, is an international question and one which should be made 

 a subject of immediate consideration by the governments of the coun- 

 tries concerned, if the industry so valuable to both countries is to 

 escape destruction. 



Oyster Dredging. 



The oyster grounds of the Atlantic coast provinces of Canada are 

 well known as affording oysters of the finest quality. These come 

 chiefly from the shores of Prince Edward Island. As in the case of 

 certain of our other resources, the supply was at first supposed to 

 be inexhaustible and the beds were ruthlessly exploited, with the 

 result that while the output rose from about 12,000 barrels in 1875 to 

 64,646 barrels in 1882, and while from 1882 to 1893 the yearly pro- 

 duction never fell below 50,000 barrels, it has now fallen to approximate- 

 ly half that amount, the lowest point being reached in 1907 when 

 the yield was only 27,299 barrels. The somewhat large catch since 

 that time is due to more vigorous fishing under the stimulus of higher 

 prices, and not to any actual increase in the supply. The industry, 

 in fact, is one which is fast dying out. 



While the supply has been falling off, the demand for oysters has 

 been rapidly increasing. In the 20 years from 1892 to 1912 the price 

 of oysters on the Canadian market rose fully 223 per cent, and we 

 are now paying to the United States over $350,000 per annum for a 

 product which we could easily supply in sufficient amount at least 

 for the demands of our home market if the industry were properly 

 managed and safeguarded. 



The output of Canadian oysters and the prices obtained for them 

 in successive years are shown graphically on the accompanying diagram. 

 The destruction of the beds has gone so far that in many areas the 

 time has passed when simple restriction will accomplish anything — 

 the beds must be planted anew. Not only have the beds been fished 

 out, but the very bottom on which the oysters grew has in many 

 places been destroyed by the farmers along the shore digging up the 

 mud from the bottom of the bays where the oyster beds are found 

 and even taking the oyster beds themselves for the purpose of fertili- 

 zing the soil of the adjacent land areas. This not only served to destroy 

 the oysters thus removed, but the soft mud flowing over adjacent por- 

 tions of the oyster beds which were left, killed all the remaining oysters 

 in the surrounding area. This "mud digging" in the vicinity of oyster 

 beds has now been made illegal. 



