296 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Considerable interest is being taken in the question as to whether 
eastern oysters will propagate or thrive in the waters of Puget Sound. 
It is reported that the experiment will soon be given a trial by planting 
a consignment of oysters from the East. 
The extent of the oyster industry of Puget Sound in the years 1889 
to 1892, inclusive, is shown in the following tables. The number of 
men engaged and the capital invested in this industry show little 
change from year to year, although there has been a slight increase in 
the quantity of products, with a reduction in their value. In addition 
to the persons shown in the table, there were perhaps as many more 
employed at odd times in connection with the industry, but their 
operations were too brief to entitle them to mention in the tables. In 
addition to the quantities of oysters given for Mason and Thurston 
counties, about 10,000 bushels are taken annually from these counties 
by fishermen living at Tacoma, to which place their catch is credited. 
In 1892 small beds of a bivalve mollusk (Placunanomia macroschisma) 
of no economic value were found between Tacoma aud Seattle. Con- 
siderable attention was given to this discovery, because of the extensive 
notices in the press. By the newspapers the shellfish were almost 
invariably designated as valuable beds of eastern oysters. Their shells 
were about the size of a medium eastern oyster. The soft part of most 
of them was of a bright red color, resembling fresh meat rather than 
shellfish. The Indians of the sound have long been familiar with these 
mollusks, and report them as good for food at certain seasons and as 
poisonous at other times. No experiments as to their value for food 
were made by the whites, and the beds remain undisturbed. 
Persons employed in the oyster industry of Puget Sound. 
Counties and countries. | Nativity pies: 
I 
Mason: 
MWinwtbedi Staves &h. sees esc ce octane 2 pete aa nies nate teste serene 40 | 45 
Wmnitedishatesu(ind tans) | ses ser seas ee ee apiece rater 11 11 
China S é 8 8 
PBN CC & siete) seis Sache iaiawine molestie Se RA a hel sie sie s seaic e eate dene e ie meb ints eee eee ane eae Gil ees tee 
| ese po ee ee 
Dotithe Wei theta eda EL Ded rah ole le ll ae ea ee | 64. | 64 
Thurston: | 
United States (Indians): oo 5523-25 ole oe ce sae ee oe esis wlemeire iene See ae ese eee | 12 | 12 
Grand total’... 2. oc niscescenee tee ce aces eeeeteemeee- sen eor rete rEreteeeer eae 76 | % 76 
| 
Boats, apparatus, shore property, and cash capital employed in the oyster industry of 
Puget Sound. 
. Mason. Thurston. Total. 
Items. aac > 
‘ No. | Value.| No. | Value.| No. | Value. 
———— === +- > po : — | . F 
Ponts eee ee tats. besa Se ce Oe acti: oo ee ty nt es ee | a78 | $1,560 | 25 $750 | 103 $2,310 
LIGNE) Sona S3 Sess OS See eae SSE noe H Oe Ses SABO eds Ande | 43 172 10 40 53 | 212 
PMIOA US ASCE ators het cktce tt bO sek ee et PO eee eee 40 | 2, 000 5 | 250 45: 2,250 
SHGLEVDRODOLUY 2 oo to oicints mjc)ee anes eins te ane ete ee eee eee [ences HeeOOOn|Racees VE 2 cei eerecse 1, 000 
@asiicapibalesct eel es OL tb aes Aare ee eee ae eee esa 50001) Ces | Se See Jagecee 5, 000 
Tetlemawe betty, 4h. hte ie ide Be _ Fath: Se Oe 161 | 9,732| 40] 1,040] 201| 10,772 
a Rowboats. b Canoes. 
