98 REPORT OP THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



soft-shell elams and they are being raised on beds where they do not 

 naturally establish themselves, by removing the young "spat" from 

 beds where a good "set" has been made and sowing them like grain on 

 these barren beds. The production of clams can be increased by this 

 method almost without limit. As there is a most excellent market for 

 these clams such an increase in production would be very desirable. 

 In order to raise clams, or oysters for that matter, it is necessary to 

 protect the beds from the depredations of the sting-rays with stake 

 fences. No advance can be made in the cultivation of clams unless 

 individual fishermen can control their own beds. The law on the subject 

 should be thoroughly investigated to see if it is not possible under the 

 Fish and Game Districting Act, or otherwise, to apportion beds to 

 fishermen. 



Recent great advances in oyster culture in the state of Wa.shington 

 make it certain that similar progress can be made here. Our production 

 of oysters should be on the increase instead of remaining at a standstill. 

 Our oyster and clam resources need to be thoroughly investigated by an 

 expert and the ways and means pointed out for developing this neglected 

 industry. Over 25 years ago C. H. Townsend made a report on the 

 oyster resources of California for the United States Bureau of Fisheries. 

 This report may be found in the 1893 report of the United States Com- 

 missioner of Fisheries. It was the result of a preliminary scientific 

 survey of our oyster resources and the author was decidedly of the opin- 

 ion that our oyster production could be greatly increased, and, even at 

 that early time, complained of the antiquated methods pursued in the 

 industry. Since that time we have made little improvement and no 

 oyster expert has since visited our oyster beds, although the Bureau of 

 Fisheries has several such who have been of invaluable assistance to 

 03'ster growers on the Atlantic coast. This has not been a case of 

 neglect, for the truth is we have not asked them to come, as the industry 

 has not been awake to the importance of oyster investigation work. 



We have a sea mussel that abounds along nearly our entire 1000 

 miles of coast, clinging to the rocks in compact masses. In many places 

 it is extremely abundant. These mussels have a food value equal to 

 that of oysters. They are most excellent when canned or pickled. They 

 grow more rapidly than oysters and the weight of the shell compared 

 with the meat is much less than in oysters. All that is lacking is an 

 inclination on the part of the public to eat them. They are eaten 

 extensively in Europe, Avhere in many places they are cultivated on 

 barriers set up for the purpose. 



On our Atlantic coast there is a mussel almost identical to ours, for 

 which the United States Bureau of Fisheries is at the present time 

 endeavoring to create a demand. There is some difficulty on the Atlantic 



