424 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



being burned for lime. In many places the dead shells 

 of once productive beds, remain many feet in thickness. 

 The great drawback of the oyster fishery of this Pro- 

 vince is the digging of oyster shells for manure under 

 the name of " mussel mud." The oyster fishery is but a 

 mere scrap and vestige of what it once was, and might 

 again be made, nevertheless the oyster fishery of 

 this Island nets £23,000 per annum by way of ex- 

 port, over and above supplying a large quantity for 

 local consumption. They have long maintained a good 

 fame and are shipped to all the neighbouring cities of 

 the Dominion of Canada. Two forms are found indis- 

 criminately in the beds, namely circular and long. It 

 may be curious to ascertain scientifically whether these 

 are two distinct species — the Ostrea Canadensis and the 

 0. borealis — -or merely difference of form. At all events 

 the variation is established in their earliest growth. 

 Both are equally valued for food. 



The value of the Canadian oyster fisheries for 1883 

 was officially returned at £30,324, which was £8,000 less 

 than the previous year. The quantity obtained was 

 about 51,000 barrels. New Brunswick produced 10,317 

 barrels. Prince Edward Island, 38,880 barrels, against 

 57,042 barrels in the previous year. Nova Scotia 1,343 

 barrels. The demand for oysters and the good prices 

 obtained have stimulated production everywhere, and 

 the depleted beds are now raked more industriously than 

 ever. Over-fishing and indiscriminate raking have done 

 their work very effectually. 



The oysters of Trieste and Venetia are still considered 

 the best in the Adriatic Sea. They are fat and savoury 

 after they have reached three years. They are sent from 

 thence to many quarters, and to prevent their opening, 

 they are tied round with string, for the loss of the water 

 or liquor causes the death of the mollusk. 



The two species of oysters most eaten as food, 0. edulis 

 and 0. hypopus, are being cultivated in the Mediter- 

 ranean, but they produce very large shells there, the 

 waters being more calcareous than that of the ocean;. 



