154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
about 1869, the firm of* A. Booth &Oo. brought to Sail Francisco three 
carloads of live Eastern oysters of large size. It is said that this was 
the first shipment of live oysters from the Atlantic coast. But, accord' 
ing to the traditions of the trade, the market was overstocked by even 
this small invoice ; consequently, to avoid loss, the shippers had to plant 
in San Francisco Bay all that could not be promptly sold. This experi- 
ment, the first attempt at planting oysters ou the Pacific coast that we 
have any record of, resulted favorably. The oysters lived and thrived, 
and those interested gained valuable experience from the enforced ex- 
periment, while the financial result gave them confidence to enter more 
extensively into the business. 
The following year “seed oysters” were imported from the East and 
oyster beds were started on a commercial basis. About 1871 Booth & 
Co. sold out their interest to the Morgan Oyster Company, which 
largely increased the business, not only supplying the city and subur- 
ban trade, but sending to the interior of the State shipments of canned 
“ fresh-frozen ” oysters. In 1877 M. B. Mornghan engaged in the oyster 
business at San Francisco, and in 1878 he began to import seed oysters 
from the Atlantic coast, which were planted in San Francisco Bay. 
From time to time others have made feeble attempts to go into the busi- 
ness, and have located beds and planted “ seed” on a small scale. But 
these efforts have proved abortive, and those concerned in the attempts 
soon sold out their interests to the pion er firms or have abandoned the 
business under even less advantageous circumstances. For this reason 
the entire oyster fishery of San Francisco Bay is now controlled by the 
two firms mentioned above. 
Methods of planting, etc . — Two kinds of oysters are used for planting; 
these differ only in age and size and are called respectively, “seeds” and 
“plants.” Both kinds are brought from the Atlantic coast. No suc- 
cess has yet been met in breeding oysters in San Francisco Bay, and it 
is the belief of those familiar with the local conditions that the temper- 
ature of the water is unfavorable on account of the cold streams empty- 
ing into the bay.* For this reason the young oysters have to be 
* There is considerable difference of opinion, according to Wilcox, concerning the 
question of the propagation of oysters in San Francisco Bay. While some hold 
stoutly to the theory that there is no “set’ 7 of spat, or, if so, contend that it dies 
before reaching maturity, others point to the fact that young “seed” brought from 
the East thrives and grows exceedingly well. They naturally ask why young oysters 
that have hatched and set here should not do as well as those brought from distant 
waters. Some who have had long experience in the business concede that there is a 
limited natural set, and though this is a much-disputed point, the increase in the 
output of the beds following a reported decrease in importations would seem to give 
some reason for believing it. On the other hand, if it is a fact that the oyster breeds 
naturally, why then should it be necessary to replenish the beds with new “ seed ” and 
“ plants,” even so much as now? For sureby the oyster has had ample time to become 
acclimated and to show the results of natural increase in a marked manner if the con- 
ditions are at all favorable. It is, therefore, easy to see that the evidence on either 
side is not yet of a decisive character. 
