70 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



6 GEORGE V, A. 1916 



61. August 28. — Grover island, north point; in 2 feet, on rocks, among short sea- 

 weed, among rock oysters; September 15; set light; moderately slimed. 



Collectors 1 to 60 were filled with shell picked from oyster-mud, while collector 61 

 was filled with fresh oyster-shell. Collectors 60 and 61 were placed together in order 

 to test the relative efficiency of fresh and old shell. No difference was observable but, 

 owing to the fact that fresh shell was not obtained before August 28th these collectors 

 were too late in being placed out to make the test a conclusive one. 



The tests show that spat sets i^ practically all parts of the bay, wherever there is 

 suitable cultch material. The set was in general light, although in a few places it was 

 good. The result would, without doubt, have been very much better had it been pos- 

 sible to set out the collectors earlier. The set was best in locations where the water was 

 shallow, easily warmed, and where the bottom, free from eel-grass, was swept by cur- 

 rents from oyster beds not too far distant. The whole investigation leaves the impres- 

 sion that of late years the set of spat has suffered a great decrease. Set of spat is a 

 thing essential to oyster production in Richmond bay, and it would seem advisable to 

 institute a strictly close season until spatting has again reached normal proportions. 

 The attempt to restock the bay by means of American oysters would probably meet with 

 very indifferent success. Even were it demonstrated that they would flourish and grow, 

 there remains the much more doubtful question as to whether they would reproduce 

 themselves or not. Besides, Malpeque oysters have a name which it is good policy to 

 retain. There would, moreover, be the serious danger of introducing the devasting drill 

 along with the oysters. 



FORMER OUTPUT OF THE BAY. 



The following statement of the number of barrels of oysters shipped from Prince 

 Edward Island through the Charlottetown Steam Navigation Company will give 

 some idea of the relative proportions of the oyster trade from Richmond bay through 

 a series of years subsequent to 1889. The writer is indebted to the kindness of the 

 company for it. Other companies have handled oysters, but information could not be 

 obtained concerning the amounts. All the oysters handled by the Charlottetown 

 Steam Navigation Company were not Richmond Bay oysters, but the bulk of them 

 were. The statement will give a very fair idea of the relative trade from year to 

 year in respect to the oysters from this bay. 



Barrels. Barrels. 



1889 23,538 1902 17,271 



1890 20,033 1903 14,916 



1891 20,825 1904 12,280 



1892 23.654 1905 12,406 



1893 20,328 1906 12,283 



1894 15,565 1907 7,456 



1895 15.265 1908 7,472 



1896 15,157 1909 9,190 



1897 12,661 1910 7,196 



1898 16,550 1911 7.589 



1899 15,161 1912 6,908 



1900 15,683 1913 12,982 



1901 18,238 



The sudden rise in the number of barrels shipped in the year 1913 is eloquent 

 in support of the contention that there should be a strictly enforced close season. It 

 ■was ten years since there had been so heavy a shipment of oysters. The figures show 

 that the oyster trade was of considerable importance twenty-five years ago and that it 

 has dwindled in. that period until it was in 1912 less than one-third of its extent at 

 the beginning of the period. The need of protection is very apparent. 



