46 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



place of the antiquated laws passed in the early 1870 's. The new laws 

 provide that state tide lands may be filed upon for oyster cultivation 

 under the administration of the Division of Fish and Game and it is 

 provided that at the discretion of the Division a small revenue shall 

 be paid to cover the cost of administration and the services of an 

 aquatic biologist. 



Under the encouragement given, a serious start was made in grow- 

 ing the native oyster in Humboldt Bay and the Japanese oyster in 

 Drake's Bay and Elkhorn Slough. Humboldt Bay was selected as the 

 most favorable locality to develop native oyster growing and the Divi- 

 sion, under the authority of the new laws, prohibited the introduction 

 of Japanese or other exotic species in the bay. This was done to guard 

 against the appearance of certain destructive pests, especially the 

 Japanese oyster drill, and to prevent the possible crowding out of the 

 native oyster by a less valuable species. 



Fairly large plants of Japanese oysters have been made in Elk- 

 horn Slough on Monterey Bay, San Francisco Bay, Drake's Bay and 

 Tomales Bay. These oysters grow rapidly and it is now certain they 

 can be grown successfully in various localities in the State. This oyster 

 is excellent for canning and for use fresh or frozen, but at the present 

 time the market is not very good and there are more than enough being 

 raised to supply the demand. In addition to this the U. S. markets are 

 being invaded by frozen oysters from Japan at a price so low our 

 growers can hardly compete. 



On the other hand, the small native or Olympia oyster has little or 

 no competition. The demand for it is growing and the price advanc- 

 ing. If this oyster can l)e grown successfully on a commercial scale in 

 Humboldt Bay it will be so much more valuable than either the Japa- 

 nese or Eastern oyster as to justify all possible assistance and encour- 

 agement. This is being rendered by the services of Mr. Bonnot, 

 aquatic biologist, who has continued the work since the withdrawal of 

 the U. S. Bureau two years ago. Humboldt County has given financial 

 aid to the industry and has built for the use of Mr. Bonnot a small 

 but adequate laboratory on the shore of the bay. 



For four years several companies have been carrying on and have 

 spent a good deal of money in building dikes and preparing beds. For 

 three years they have put out great numbers of the latest model of 

 oyster collectors. The first year they failed to get a good set, due 

 |)artly to their lack of experience. Last year they were thoroughly 

 l)repared but tlie water was abnormally cold all season and the oysters 

 faih'd to make a commercial set. This, with other troubles, was natur- 

 ally fjuite discouraging. From experiments it was indicated that 

 Eastern oysters can be successfully grown in the bay from the imported 

 seed, when protected by dikes. To bring in a revenue to the growers 

 while trying to get the native oyster on a paying basis, the Division 

 removed the ban against planting Eastern seed in the bay. Last year 

 a carload of seed was brought out and is now doing wonderfully well. 



During the ])resent season the native oyster has made a remark- 

 ably good set and the two companies which put out collectors were 

 rewarded with a crop of young oysters that would be considered good 

 on the best of the Olympia beds. Notwithstanding the large importa- 

 tions of Eastern oyster seed which wiU be planted this fall, it now 



