OYSTER CULTURE IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 73 



each particular plot and no other; the corresponding numbers in the 

 books refer to that particular plot and to no other. 



Oyster During the summer of 1913, a beginning was made in 



by Private the cultivation of their grounds by eight different corn- 



Companies panies. About 2,500 barrels of oysters were imported 



from the United States. These oysters varied in size from year-olds, 

 a half-inch in diameter, to four-year-olds four inches in diameter. By 

 the end of the year it was found that the smaller sizes had made an 

 excellent growth, while the larger ones had not thriven nearly so well. 

 As much of the ground leased consisted of sand or mud-bottom, the 

 conditions for growth were doubtless not as good as they would have 

 been on natural beds. With a view to getting a set of spat, shells were 

 put out by different companies in July and August, and, that they might 

 obtain these shells, three depleted beds in the reserved grounds were 

 staked out for that purpose. 



Some companies had a fairly good catch of spat last year, but it is 

 too early, as yet, to determine this year's catch. The seed oysters 

 planted last year and the year before have shown good growth, but it 

 has been demonstrated that it is useless to import mature American 

 oysters, as three-fourths of them die, and those that survive do not 

 seem to lose the coppery taste, which is peculiar to these oysters. 

 Sales of mature American oysters, which had been in our waters for 

 two seasons, were made to Montreal dealers but did not meet with a 

 very good reception. During the present season no seed oysters appear 

 to have been imported and practically no planting has been done. 

 Cultch has been put down on a small scale by only a few companies 

 and, as I said before, it is yet too early to determine results. 



Drawbacks to Oyster Cui,tivation 



Some of the causes that have militated against the industry are the 

 following : 



1. Scarcity of capital; 



2. Lack of confidence by the investing public in a new enterprise; 



3. The doubtful quality of a great part of the bottom available ; 



4. The difficulty of preventing poaching; 



5. The losses caused by the destructive star-fish; 



6. The difficulty of obtaining managers with sufficient knowledge 

 and experience. 



