OYSTER CULTURE IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 77 



Grand river and replanted on the private areas. You can see that the 

 growth made each year is about half an inch. Ordinarily, that oyster 

 would grow long and slim but, having been planted in a hard bed, it 

 has acquired a better shape. 



I have here a Cape Cod oyster very similar to our Malpeque. It 

 was imported and spent about a year on a bed in Bedeque bay. 



Dr. Robertson: How does the flavour compare with that of the 

 Malpeque ? 



Mr. ArsenauIvT: It is not as good but I believe that in another 

 year it would have acquired a better flavour. Perhaps a connoisseur 

 would say that the flavour was not as good, that it still has some of 

 the coppery taste peculiar to the American oyster, but it has improved 

 wonderfully in quality since it was laid down. 



Mr. Daniels: How much growth has it made? 



Mr. Arsenault: About an inch in a year. Here (exhibiting 

 specimen) is a sample of a Grand River oyster. It has a good flavour 

 but has had the disadvantage of being grown in mud. The oyster 

 always tries to get its mouth to the water and, being imbedded in mud, 

 it grows long in order to get its mouth up into the water. It has a 

 thin shell that breaks easily, so that the oyster loses the water and dies. 

 For that reason it is not desirable for market. 



Dr. Robertson: Have you tried transplanting small oysters less 

 than a year old into Malpeque bay ? 



Mr. Arsenault : Yes. They did very well. I showed you some from 

 Grand river which, if left in their natural habitat, would grow like this. 

 Here (producing sample) you see a cluster of mud oysters. Eight 

 spats caught on that same shell and, growing in the mud, they slowly 

 grew out to this length, but th«y are not marketable. 



There are three things that Prince Edward Island has to do in 

 order to make a success of oyster culture. It has, first, to provide 

 that companies which have leased large areas must get within their 

 large areas some good ground, some of the ground that is now 

 reserved, where all they will have to do is to clean the bottom and 

 plant their oysters. That is necessary in order to encourage these 

 companies and give them an opportunity to expand. Second, better 

 protection must be afforded. This is a matter in which the Dominion 

 should assist, because the protection of the fisheries comes within 

 their jurisdiction. Third, something must be done for the destruction 

 of the star-fish. If these three things could be accomplished, the 



