3 -THE TRANSPLANTING OF EASTERN OYSTERS TO WILLAPA 

 BAY, WASHINGTON, WITH NOTES ON THE NATIVE OYSTER 

 INDUSTRY. 



By C. H. Townsend, 

 Naturalist, U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross. 



During a visit of the late Marshall McDonald, United States Commis- 

 sioner of Fisheries, to Willapa Bay, Washington, in the summer of 1893, 

 representations in favor of the introduction of the eastern oyster were 

 made to him by persons interested in the cultivation of the small native 

 oysters at that place. Strongly impressed with the desirability of such 

 an importation, the Commissioner promised to authorize the necessary 

 investigations concerning the conditions of the bay and its adaptability 

 for the growth of other species, to be followed by such further action 

 as he might deem advisable to take. Accordingly, in October, 1894, 

 the writer, who had previously made some study of the local oyster 

 industry of Willapa Bay,* was directed to make a further examination 

 of the native oyster deposits found there, and, if possible, select suit- 

 able localities for planting the eastern species. 



Willapa Bay is the most favorable locality on the Pacific coast for 

 the cultivation of the native oyster {Ostrea lurida). This species has 

 always been abundant there, and for many years before its present 

 system of cultivation was attempted was regularly shipped to San 

 Francisco, where it was the only oyster used prior to the introduction 

 of the eastern oyster into the waters of California. Native oysters are 

 taken from the natural deposits with tongs and carefully sorted, the 

 largest being at once marketed and the rest laid out for two or three 

 years upon suitable beds for further growth. 



The cultivation of this small oyster constitutes the principal fishery 

 industry of the bay, there being about 350 persons employed, Indians 

 constituting about one-third of the number. Over $06,000 worth of 

 oysters were i)roduced in 1895. The quantity of Willapa Bay oysters 

 consumed annually in the Pacific coast States amounts to about 50,000 

 sacks, the total acreage of transplanted beds is over 2,000, and the 

 value of small boats and other appliances of the fishery is over $20,000. 



* Report U. S. Fish Commission, 1889-1891, Oyster Resources Pacific Coast, pp. 

 343-372. 



F. R. 95 13 193 



