BARREN OYSTER BOTTOMS 71 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



CONCLUSIONS. 



1. The character of the bottom is favourable to the development of oysters. There 

 is a considerable amount of mud bottom, but there are also extensive tracts of good 

 hard clean bottom on which it should be possible to develop good oyster areas. 



2. Eel-grass is abundant throughout the shallow areas, and will demand the 

 expenditure of labour and money in order that it may be kept in check. 



3. The salinity of the water, although somewhat high, is still favourable to the 

 production of oysters and, judging by the oysters seen during the summer, of very 

 fine quality. 



4. The temperatures are somewhat low until rather late in the summer. In this 

 way the spatting is delayed and the season of growth during the same season short- 

 ened. The low temperature probably does decrease the rate of growth of and the 

 number of oysters in Richmond bay, but it would appear that it improves their 

 quality. 



5. Although the identification of the diatoms, kindly undertaken by Dr. A. H. 

 MacKay, is not yet completed, it may be here stated that there is an abundant supply 

 of oyster food in the water's of this bay. 



6. The enemies of the oyster are not yet a serious menace in Richmond bay if 

 proper measures are taken to keep them in check. The most serious depredations are 

 those made by man and the starfish. 



7. Spatting falls short of the requirements for successful oyster growing, but 

 this condition of affairs may be remedied. 



8. Oysters have existed in Richmond bay for a very great number of years, and 

 have been much more plentiful in former years than they are at present. This would 

 appear to be due to overfishing. 



The oyster beds of Richmond bay are in bad shape, but their condition may be 

 remedied. There is no evidence on which one can make the statement that natural 

 conditions bar the development of oyster production. Eel-grass and starfish present 

 difficulties which may be successfully contended with. No good evidence was obtained 

 that the physical conditions are more unfavourable than they have been in the past. 

 The chief danger to oyster production is disregard for and slack enforcement of the 

 law. The hope for the regeneration of the oyster industry as a great national asset 

 lies in a strict and impartial enforcement of protective regulations. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The writer would favour the following steps as most desirable: — 



1. That measures be taken to more rigidly enfor,ce the oyster laws. 



2. That a close season of at least three years be established, during which no one 

 be permitted to take oysters from the public beds, and during which the sale of oysters 

 taken from any bed, public or private, in the bay be prohibited. 



3. That the ground between the 4-foot line and the shore be leasable to the 

 fishermen for spatting grounds. 



