OYSTER RESOURCES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 369 
rainfall of this region is taken into consideration, there is an advantage 
for the boat that requires no bailing out. 
This light-draft type of boat is well adapted to the shallow waters 
of the bay where it has developed. It will float more oysters in slight 
depths of water than any vessel of its size with which Lam acquainted. 
A couple of them have recently been taken to San Francisco, where 
they are known as Shoalwater Bay boats. In the form with flush deck 
the oysters are kept from rolling overboard by light bulwarks, 8 or 10 
inches high, at the sides. Another craft in use here is the house boat, 
which is a simple scow, upon the deck of which a house is constructed 
for warmth and protection in winter culling of oysters. A stove may 
be added if desired. 
PUGET SOUND. 
The following statement of the oyster fishery of Puget Sound is from 
the report of the State fish commissioner, Mr. James Crawford, for 1890, 
To this I can add but little, as heavy rains and unfavorable tides did 
not permit satisfactory investigations during my brief stay at Olympia: 
The table below gives the location of the principal transplanted oyster beds on 
Puget Sound, average number of sacks produced per week, and number of acres in 
cultivation: 
| | Weekly 
Location. | Acres. | output, 
sacks. 
IMM aves sia s clonacasecie oan = es Olean 45 
Oyster Bay eset. siee ees 75 100 
Bigs kookmmecssosie 2 aces Pea gtonk|| 40) 
North Bay s--cns seeee: oes = 70 100 
: Hood iCanaliae- cose tees ess I 850s 25 
SET Wi) 30 eee ee pee seer | 20 25 
SCA itenincss seer Sas. ase 40 | 15 
sTintlbeey op he Aas 2? | B45 “| 350 | 
The aboveaverage is for eight months in the year. During four months of summer 
not more than one-third ef the amount given above is averaged. The number of 
acres now in cultivation could easily be doubled if the demand required it, and will 
most probably be, as now perfect title can be secured to the tide lands upon which 
the oyster beds are located. There are about 125 persons engaged in gathering 
oysters in the district, 60 of whom are Indians. Oysters are valued at $1.75 per sack 
of 2 bushels each. 7 
The industry does not appear to be a thriving one. In fact, a dozen 
years ago, before eastern oysters and the native oysters of Willapa 
Bay were commonly available on Puget Sound, the local resources were 
more systematically worked than they are now. Capt. W. J. Doane, 
of Olympia, informed me that he once had a wholesale oyster business 
amounting to nearly 1,00@ sacks a week. These were supplied to all 
the towns of the region, from Olympia to Victoria. His trade is at 
present confined to Olympia. 
The best native oyster localities of the region are doubtless in the 
vicinity of this place. Budd Inlet was formerly good oystering ground, 
H. Mis. 113 24 
