FISHEKIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES IN 1904. 17 



are taken, culled, and packed for shipment in sacks holding 115 pounds 

 each, gross weight. The men receive $1 per sack for culling and 40 

 cents per gallon for opening oysters. 



The growth of eastern oysters planted in Washington waters has 

 been slow, but the future holds good prospects of their outnumber- 

 ing the native stock. In 1894 the United States Fish Commission 

 planted 80 barrels of eastern seed oysters in Willapa Bay, and this 

 planting demonstrated the possibility of acclimatization. During the 

 next few years several attempts were made b}^ private parties to intro- 

 duce seed oysters from the Atlantic States. In 1897 the Toke Point 

 Oyster Company gave the matter more attention, and since then, when 

 seed could be procured at reasonable prices, made other plantings. 

 This company is now receiving large returns from its investment, and 

 its success has caused other firms to engage in the business. 



The coldness of the waters of the northwest coast is unfavorable for 

 the propagation of the eastern oyster, and necessitates a constant 

 restocking with fresh seed from the Atlantic coast at a heavy expense. 

 The cost of transportation of a carload is about $600. The seed are 

 from 1 to 2 years old, and are taken mostl} r from beds in Long 

 Island Sound. They are shipped in refrigerator cars holding from 

 150 to 200 barrels, the cars being iced in transit and going by fast 

 freight. If the stock leaves its starting point in good condition the 

 loss in transit is small. 



Up to 1900 very few eastern oysters had been taken up for ship- 

 ment, but during the past few years the quantity has increased, and in 

 1904 amounted to 38,128 bushels, some being shipped as far as Los 

 Angeles and San Francisco. The value of these was $122,700. The 

 entire product amounted to 152,780 bushels, valued at $279,312, a 

 large increase since 1899, when only 98,355 bushels, valued at $174,567, 

 were taken up. 



Oregon. — A small bed of native oysters, located on the Yaquina River 

 a few miles above its mouth, has for } 7 ears been the only source of 

 oyster supply in Oregon. During the past ten or fifteen years sev- 

 eral attempts have been made to introduce eastern oysters, but the few 

 sacks planted were stolen from the beds. In 1902 and 1903 another 

 attempt was made, however, and this has proved a success. Three car- 

 loads, or 460 barrels, of eastern seed oysters were planted in the river 

 during 1904, and this is the only place on the Pacific coast where the 

 3 T oung from eastern seed have been reported as surviving in any num- 

 bers. The area of this oyster ground is small, but it may become a 

 seed-raising place for future use. 



California. — The California oyster grounds continue to furnish 

 eastern and native oysters, both in the shell and opened, the supply of 

 eastern oysters being kept up by the yearly planting of 1 and 2 year 

 old seed brought from the Atlantic coast. The business showed a 



