56 
BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
Prince Edward Island produces the greatest quantity ;; 
New Brunswick comes next, and that of Nova Scotia is rela- 
tively insignificant. The centre of the Oyster-trade in the first 
of these Provinces is Summerside, and the greater part of the 
supply is drawn from Richmond Bay. King’s County has 
very few or no beds. Formerly those of Malpeque and 
Bedeque were very productive and highly esteemed. In New 
Brunswick, the beds of Shediac and Cocagne have been the 
most famous, and were among the earliest to become exhaust- 
ed. Thirty or forty years ago, those of Caraquette and Ship- 
pegan were the most productive, but to-day those of the latter 
place yield but few, and Caraquette and Bay du Yin give the 
largest returns. In Nova Scotia, the greater part are taken 
in the Bras d’Or Lakes, at Grand Narrows, Washabuck, 
Whycocomagh, River Dennis, etc., and at Tracadie, Pugwash, 
Wallace and Antigonish on the main land. 
In Prince Edward Island, it is estimated by Mr. J. 
Sharp, cf Summerside, that about one thousand barrels are 
required yearly for home consumption in the latter place, and 
the same quantity in Charlottetown. Considerable quanti- 
ties are also consumed at other places on the Island, but far 
the greater portion are exported to New Brunswick and Nova 
Scotia, and the upper Provinces. A few are exported to 
Newfoundland, and lately a few to Chicago and Milwaukee. 
In St. John, Mr. J. A. Turner estimates that no less than 
ten thousand to twelve thousand barrels of Oysters are con- 
sumed annually; of these all but about five per cent are 
native, the United States Oysters being imported during the 
close season and in the winter. The former cost about $2.50 
per barrel in St. John, and the latter from two to three times 
as much. 
In Halifax, Mr. Wilson, a large dealer, thinks that from 
one thousand five hundred to two thousand barrels are used 
annually, and about twice that quantity in the entire Pro- 
vince. About one-tenth or less of these are United States 
Oysters; the remainder are the greatly preferred natives. 
The latter cost about two dollars and fifty cents to importer 
and three dollars per barrel to the consumer, while the former 
