78 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



success of the industry would be assured. If not, there will be very 

 little encouragement to go into oyster cultivation. 



Mr. Daniels: Of course in the Island your hope has been to get 

 a revenue from oysters. In Nova Scotia we have had exactly the 

 same hope, but I suppose we had better abandon that and turn the 

 oyster over to the Dominion. 



Mr. ArsenauW: I would not say that yet. What we would like 

 the Dominion to do is to give assistance in the way of protection and 

 the destruction of the star-fish. If they will do that, we will take care 

 of the industry. 



Mr. CowiE: Do you think the method adopted by Captain Kemp 

 in 1914 was successful in combating the star-fish pest? 



Mr. ArsenauIvT: Yes, certainly. But they were not properly 

 equipped. 



Mr. CowiB: It was only a temporary arrangement but, if my 

 memory serves me correctly, they caught something like i6o,cxx) star- 

 fish in the short time they were at it. 



Mr. Arsenaui,t: Yes. 



Mr. Cowie: You think, if the operations were continued, they 

 would largely control the star-fish ? 



Mr. ArsEnaulT: There is no question about it and, if they were 

 properly equipped, they would be twice as effective. One boat has the 

 steam hoisting gear which is necessary in order to throw the sweeper 

 over. It is necessary to lift the sweeper with steam power and there 

 should be a hot-water vat in which to plunge it and get rid of the star- 

 fish. To remove them by hand is very slow. These government boats 

 do not do much in the summer and, if they were employed in this way, 

 they would serve a double purpose, the destruction of the star-fish and 

 the protection of the bays from poachers. 



ProE. Prince : Were the lectures by Dr. Nelson on oyster culture of 

 any benefit to the men ? The Biological Board sent an expert around 

 the Island to address them and I fancy' the fishermen were not very 

 enthusiastic about it. 



Mr. ArsenauI/T : Of course Dr. Nelson's lecture was more or less 

 technical. It was simply about the history of the oyster and its forma- 

 tion and food. So far as the planters were concerned, it was not 

 practical. First, somebody should instruct the planters respecting 



