Full text of "The rise and decline of the Olympia oyster"

See other formats

ru
ru
a
a

□
m
a

THE

RISE and DECLINE

THE

OLYMPIA

OYSTER

E, N» STEELS

PIONEER OLYMPIA OY

FOR THE

OLYMPIA OYSTER G
ASSOCIATION

Published in the United States of America by
FULCO PUBLICATIONS - - Box 37. ELMA, WASHINGTON

DEDICATED TO THE PIONEERS OF LOWER

PUGET SOUND WHO DEVELOPED THE

OLYMPIA OYSTER FARMING

INDUSTRY.

Ode to the Olympia Oyster

by Jay Bolster
■Pioneer Olvimpia Poet

Of all the palate pleasing foods
Thai spring from land and, sea
There s no food so dee-licious
As the oyster is to me.

I read a lot of literature
On oysters in m,y quest
Determined I would find a type
That outclassed all the rest.

I read Paul Bunyans Diary
And learned that Paul had found
The super oyster of the Gods
While digging Pugei Sound.

He called it the Olympia
And coined a word specific
Describing the Olympia
As simply **0\)sieriffic.

At last mp search ivas ended
Food of the Cods Vd found
The nearest place to Paradise—
''Olympia,''* Pugei Sound.

And so I settled down to stay

In this land of the blest.

Here in this Northwest Wonderland

To work and play and rest.

And eat this oyster of the Cods
Which grows in Pugei Sound.
With the *'oysierrific* flavor
For there's no place else it's found.

Foreword and
Acknowledgements

The story '*The Rise and Decline of the Ol^mpia Oyster* Was
inspired by a desire on the part of today's o^siermen to preserve the
earl\) history, the yesterdays of the pioneer oystermen. It covers
more than half a centur]) of the lives of those to whom this hook is
dedicated, and the part they took in the development of the native
oyster found by them in the waters of southern Puget Sound; their
problems and their persistent efforts and ingenuity in overcoming
them.

Also how, after perfecting a system of oyster culture surpassed
by none in the oyster n^orld, which yielded abundant crops, they de-
veloped a market which readily absorbed the supply. Success was
attained in producing ''An oyster right for the market, a market right
for the oyster*'.

In treating that part of the story pertaining to the ** Decline'' of
the Olympia Oyster industry it goes into how the said pioneers and
their families, and other oystermen who joined their ranks through
the years, are being deprived of the fruit of their labors; the cause
of the decline and its extent.

Little will be found which appeals to the fiction reader. It is not
a love story. The only mystery or love story told is ''The love life of
the oyster". It is simply a story of mens lives, the life of the oyster
which they cultivated, and the Olympia Oyster industry.

At the time this historic story Was authorized only three of the
half century pioneers remained. During its preparation one of the
three, George W. Draham, has passed on. Fitting references have

been made to the Very important part played by him, and the Warm
spot of friendship in the hearts of all.

The book is necessarily in the first person. The write/s qualifi-
cations consist principalis in his personal acquaintance with the
participants in the recorded events and his personal participation in
them.

I wish to express my appreciation for the co-operation of the
Olympia Oyster Growers Association and its members. Especially
do I mention F. W. {Mat) Mathias and Boh Bowers, the commit-
tee selected, to collaborate with me. They have spent much time re-
viewing and perfecting the manuscript, as well as in assembling the
data.

E. N. Steele

Olympia, Washington, September 30, 1957.

MUD BAY SAM

Or Sam-Saw-Witz-Kaw, respected shaker Priest of the Indian Shakar Church on Mud
Bay. He promoted friendship among the Indian Northwest tribes by serving Olympia
Oysters for their annual Shaker Conventions.

CHARLEY JOHN

Expert oysterman and member of Quinault Indian Tribe, worked in the oyster
business for over fifty years.

■i'«*^.

JOE Y. WALDRIP, Oyster Pioneer.
He bought his first oyster land in 1891;
in 1906 he, Ole Hanson and W. H. Knee-
land formed the Olympia Oyster Co.. of
which he was vice president and man-
ager of the beds until his death in
August, 1929.

%,'fiif^'^'^'J^ ^ " ~ '-- "^ *~ - -
Olympia Oyster beds, home (center) and culling
house of Herbert Nelson, formerly owned and de-
veloped by his step father, the late U. G. (Les)
Young, pioneer grower. Note height of dike and
construction.

Dr. George W. Ingham standing in
midst of his Olympia Oyster bed,
dressed in his customary oyster beds
attire.

'^Wiv"^

First Olympia Oyster Culling House on Mud Bay (Eld Inlet). Date about 1890,
(Photo by J. J. Brenner.)

Opening and packing house of J. J. Brenner Oyster Company at Oyster Bay, Washington.

May, 1957.

Right to Left — Earl G. Brenner, Vice President of J. J. Brenner Oyster Co., son of Jack J.
Brenner, the founder. John Brenner and Earl Brenner Jr., now carrying on the business.

nrjnr

First shucking and shipping plant for Olympia Oysters built and operated by J. J. Bren-
ner on Olympia waterfront in 18S3 — on what is now West Fourth Avenue

Second shucking and shipping plant of J. J. Brenner Oyster Company on West 4th and

Simmons Street in 1898.

^^':^'"^j

'^^^V

Shucking, packing and shipping plant of Olympia Oyster Co., located on West Fourth
Avenue, Olympia. Built about 1924. Now occupied by Olympia Oyster House.

■ ■'■■I

The third shucking and packing plant of the J. J. Brenner Oyster Company, built in 1927,
Fourth Avenue, Olympia, Washington

Shucking room with space for 30 shuckers in modern sun light room conforming with all
State and Federal Health Department sanitation requirements.

I .^b

When machinery tool< over the grading operations. This is one of the first outfits of the
Olympia Oyster Co. The bucket at the end of the boom was lowered, filled, swung to present
position, dumped on peak of scow house, floated to place to be filled and dumped by raising
scov/ house side doors.

Mm,^.

l'^lfe^C^-:.t^:.:^«^;^^%..Ci^^.^^&^^^^^

Hand Leveling. — Scows were loaded by cutting down high part of bed to desired level, then
floated to part to be filled and shoveled off.

Building creosote lumber dikes by Olympia Oyster Co. J. Y. Waldrip, foreman, on right.

mmmmBmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtWmgiKMmMimi]

0 0

CSl

U O

0) (U

Eh*

h »H

p 5

(0 ns

to >,

i/i

i ^

P «

. 0)

^ s

0 *

1 ^

li^

■^ 73

•M C

•s « .

iJ •> :!^

. 2 "^

•S 2i

S =^2

O CM +*

(1) CO CO

c Sg

X •«

■^ S w

S^i"

:s 2 «",

6 S ^

2 nJ h,

S s g

0 c m

■ag«

?"S

rtj

l^^ a

(0 w 14

2^0

$ 52 i

S rt CO

tH >1 >*

CONTENTS

Page

CHAPTER I 1

Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Olympia Oyster
Crorvers Association

CHAPTER II 4

Organization of the Olympia Oyster Growers Associa-
tion.

CHAPTER III 8

Nativity of Species — Early Laws Pertaining to 0})ster
Land — First Land Owners

CHAPTER IV 22

Early Day Culling, Cultivating, Marketing, Opening and
Packing — Inception of Diking System.

CHAPTER V 30

How the **Olympia Oyster'* Received It's Name.
CHAPTER VI 35

Development of Grading and Diking System.
CHAPTER VII 41

Seeding and Cultivating Olympia Oysters
CHAPTER VIII 45

Oyster Lands — Isolated Tracts — Reversionary Rights.
CHAPTER IX 49

Marketing — Advertising Program
CHAPTER X 61

Sanitation — Sanitary Control

CHAPTER XI 65

National Recovery Administration As Applied to
Olympia Oyster Industry.

CHAPTER XII 71

Enemies of the Olympia Oyster.
CHAPTER XIII 81

State Oyster Reserves.
CHAPTER XIV 85

State Oyster Laboratories.

CHAPTER XV 93

Effect of the Introduction of Pacific Oyster On
Ol'^mpia Oyster Industry.

CHAPTER XVI 96

Decline of the Olympia Oyster Industry
CHAPTED XVII 101

Other Oystermen I Have Known
CHAPTER XVIII 113

Olympia Oyster Peculiarities.
CHAPTER XIX 115

Benefactors
CHAPTER XX 119

Appendix A — The Olympia Oyster and Pollution.

Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Olympia
Oyster Growers Association

THE BALLROOM OF THE GOVERNOR HOTEL WAS

aglow with light and good cheer. The tables were beauti-
fully set for the occasion. The room had filled with people
who eagerly met each other with a hearty handclasp and
greetings, indicating long acquaintance and a very close
friendship.

BANG WENT THE GAVEL!

Herbert Nelson, President of The Olympia Oyster
Growers Association, requested the members and guests
to be seated.

When silence prevailed. Nelson announced the oc-
casion of the gathering: The Golden Anniversary of the
Olympia Oyster Growers Assocfation, given on that date,
September 22, 1955, in honor of the Olympia Oyster in-

(1)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

dustry pioneers, to which all the old timers who had
been engaged in the oyster business were invited as
guests. Only three were left who were charter members
of the Olympia Oyster Growers Association, and who had
signed the original Constitution and By-Laws thereof
fifty years previous; all three were present, to wit: J. J.
Brenner (age 96), George Draham (age 86), and the
author of this book, E. N. Steele, (age 74).

The banquet was followed by a program. Harley Post,
Toastmaster, introduced the guests with historic refer-
ences to many things of interest which had happened
during the numerous years he had worked with them in
the Olympia Oyster industry.

As speaker of the evening, I gave a graphic review of
the origin and development of the Olympia Oyster cul-
ture, the harvesting and marketing, the rise and decline
of the industry, and made numerous references to parts
played by the different pioneers,.

Following this, there were very interesting talks by
Dave McMillin, Earl Brenner, George Draham, and other
old timers, relating their experiences connected with
the Olympia Oyster industry during the past 50 years.

DECISION TO HAVE THE "LIFE HISTORY OF

OLYMPIA OYSTER" WRITTEN.
As an outgrowth of this event, the Olympia Oyster
Growers Association decided that while the pioneers
still lived who had personally experienced and partici-
pated in the origin and development, (the life history, let
us say) of the Olympia Oyster industry, it should be
written and preserved for posterity.

(2)

The Rise And Decline Of The Objmpia Oyster

I, E. N. Steele was selected to write this story, largely
because I had been Secretary of the Olympia Oyster
Growers Association from the date of its Charter until
December 1941; over 35 years, thus being in possession
of the records, correspondence, and an exhaustive file of
information that had come into my possession through
the years, and having taken an active part in the import-
ant incidents connected with the history of the Olympia
Oyster. I knew the history of every area where 01ym.pia
Oysters were grown and had known personally those en-
gaged in the industry. The assignment was accepted by
the author with a hope that he might put the facts to-
gether in such a manner as to do justice, not only to the
quality of the oyster, but to those pioneers who develop-
ed the industry — a few resourceful and determined men
who found an oyster growing in the waters of Southern
Puget Sound in it's wild state, and step by step develop-
ed the highest level of oyster culture known by man.

The perfection attained was such that in 1929 the
United States Bureau of Fisheries, in Docum.ent No. 1066,
made the following comment:

"In the southern part of Puget Sound the oyster in-
dustry has developed an elaborate method of cultivation.
This system of oyster culture, which is employed chiefly
near Olympia, was developed through the utilization of
methods used in France and by experimentation and
observation made by the most progressive oystermxen."

It is hoped that this book will be of interest, not only
to future generations of those who took part in the re-
corded events, but that it may contain sufficient
authentic information to be of general interest.

(3)

Organizaf iosi of f he Olympia Oyster Growers
Association

BANG WENT THE GAVEL! WHERE? — IN A SMALL,
room on an upper floor of that historic old hotel located
on the Southwest corner of the streets now named Capi-
tal Way and Fourth Avenue, in Olympia, Washington, the
Kneeland Hotel. The room was the private office of W. H.
Kneeland, owner of the hotel, and one of the very early
pioneers of the native oyster business.

When? — fifty years ago. A half century has passed
since that meeting.

Occasion? — the formation of a group of men who had
become interested in the native oyster, who had filed on
and purchased oyster land, and were engaged in its de-
velopment. Little did they realize that a meeting was
being called which would organize this group of young

(4)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

men into an association which would be recognized as
the official representative of the industry for over fifty
years. That it would during those years be called upon
to help solve the problems of the "Rise and Decline" of
the industry, resulting in a Golden Anniversary Banquet
in honor of those present at that meeting, who would
then be called the "Old Pioneers."

Mr. Kneeland called the meeting to order. He an-
nounced that many problems were confronting the
Olympia Oyster industry which presented a challenge to
the oyster growers, and which would require co-opera-
tion between the growers, and their united effort to
solve. Those present v/ere: W. H. Kneeland, George W.
Draham, J. J. Brenner, Dr. George W. Ingham, J. H.
Deer, U. G. Young, Thomas O'Neil and E. N. Steele.

I well remember a little story told by George W. Dra-
ham which was a convincing argument in favor of
organizing. It had much to do with immediate action.

A Southern darkey was driving his ox team along a
Louisiana road when he met a white friend who had
heard of his skill v/ith a black snake whip. "Pop that
lizard," said the white man, and zip, off came the lizard's
head.

"There's a chipmunk," said his friend. A swish
through the air and the chipmunk's family were in
mourning.

"Pretty good, Mose, that's picking them off. Now try
that hornet's nest."

Mose grinned, "Nothin' doin', I knows when to quit —
them fellows is awganized."

Those present unanimously decided to "awganize."

(5)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

The following temporary officers were elected: Chair-
man, J. H. Deer, and Secretary, E. N. Steele.

Thus, an association was born. The gavel was to fall
hundreds of times calling to order this group of men, and
others who joined later, in the interests of the Olympia
Oyster. Many of those old pioneers have passed on. Only
three of them survive. But the places of the departed
have been filled by others, in many cases by members of
the families of the organizers. The purpose of this story is
to cover that period of time between the organization
meeting of the Olympia Oyster Growers Association and
the Golden Anniversary. Also the activities of the mem-
bers of the Association in the advancement of the culture
of Olympia Oysters, and in the harvesting and marketing
of that product; also the activities and accomplishments
of this Association as the official organization represent-
ing the Olympia Oyster industry. To do this the lives and
the part taken by its members will be told, for the lives of
these men and the story of the Olympia Oyster are so
intertwined, that one cannot be told without the other.

Following the organization meeting a constitution and
by-laws were prepared and adopted. The following were
charter members:

Mud Bay: C. E. Wiberg, Chas. Brenner, J. A. Morrow,
M. A. Simmons.

Little Skookum: U. G Young, Daniel Lynch.

Oyster Bay: John H. Blass; Olympia Oyster Co., By
&. W. Draham; Olympia Oyster Investment Co.. By G.
W. Ingham; R. Weatherhill; S. K. Taylor and Son, By E.
3. Taylor; E. N. Steele.

(6)

The Rise And Decline Of The 0/ijmpia Oyster

Oakland Bay: J. H. Deer, A. L. McDonald, Frank C.
Chester, Thomas O'Neil, J. Mitchell, B. Norman, Louis
Larsen, J. W. Grosser.

Others who later signed and participated in the As-
sociation activities were: L. P. Ouellett, National Oyster
Co., H. B. Welch, Humphrey Nelson, Herbert G. Nelson,
Jackson and Hall, Carl C. Smith, Zandel Bros., by Oscar
Zandel, W. J. Waldrip, Rocky Bay Oyster Co., by Peter
Schmidt, Harley Post.

The purposes of the Olympia Oyster Growers Associa-
tion set out in the Constitution were as follows:

Article I, Sec, 2,; "The purpose of this organization
is to protect and foster the interests of all engaged in the
production and sale of the Olympia oyster, and to pro-
mote friendly and fraternal relations among them."

The Constitution and By-Laws were prepared by a
committee consisting of G. W. Draham, Thomas O'Neil,
J. J. Brenner, John Blass, and E. N. Steele. Those elected
as officers of the first permanent organization were:

Officers: President Dr. G. W. Ingham, Vice President
Thomas O'Neil, Treasurer J. J. Brenner, Secretary E. N.
Steele.

Board of Directors: George W. Draham, Thomas
O'Neil, J. J. Deer, E. B. Taylor, John Blass.

(7)

Tht Rke Ami Dedmt Of The

Nativity of Species ■- Early Laws Pertaining
To Oyster Land - Rrst Oyster Land Owners

THE PIONEERS OF THE PACIFTC COAST FOUND
ifs bays inhabited by a very small oyster (Ostrea lur-
ida) which had a most distmct and delicious flavor. It
grew on tidelands and flats between mean high and low
tides. In British Columbia they were found principally
at Crescent Bay and Ladysmfth. In Washington in the
upp«- or northern Puget Sound country at Qmlcene Bay
and Samish Bay. In Southern Puget Sound in the vicinity
of Olympia. where they were most abundant.

In those days a wooden bridge crossed Budd Inlet
near the locarLon of the present concrete bridge to
the Westside district. In honor of an early pioneer, it
was called the "Marshfield" bridge. Chinatown was lo-
cated south of this bridge, alrng: the east shrre: so. in

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Territorial days the Chinamen took over possession of the
oysters south of the bridge. North of the bridge and on
both sides of the bay, the oyster beds were claimed by the
Indians who had a village on the west side, just north
of the bridge. The natural oyster beds south of the bridge
are now covered by water due to the dam recently con-
structed to create a lake for capital beautification.

Eld Inlet (Mud Bay), Totten Inlet (Oyster Bay), Skoo-
kum Inlet, Hammersley Inlet, Oakland Bay near
Shelton, Washington) and South Bay were all well stock-
ed with oysters. Willapa Bay and Willapa Harbor had
hundreds of acres of natural oyster beds.

In Oregon, Yaquina Bay had rather extensive beds,
and there were several less important beds along the
Oregon and California coasts. In fact, it has since been
established that this (Ostrea lurida) has abounded
on the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico, for millions
of years.

The writer has seen petrified shell of this species in
the Museum in Juneau, Alaska, which had been found
along the cove near there. Also, along the highway be-
tween El Centro and San Diego in Southern California
at a point called "Coyote Wells" a considerable number
of petrified shells of this species have been exhumed
from points covered by the ocean in prehistoric times.

MOST ABUNDANT IN VICINITY OF OLYMPIA.

In the Puget Sound area, nativity, for at least cen-
turies of time has been established by finding of great
quantities of shell covered by the debris, rotted leaves
and vegetation of the past. These deposits of shell were

(9)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

always in close proximity to well populated oyster beds.
The Indians had evidently camped on these shores, feast-
ed on the oysters and clams from nearby beds, leaving
the shell piles w^here they had camped.

In fact the Indians who occupied these oyster beds
when the first pioneers came, told stories of how they,
the peaceful "fish-eating" Indians, (sometimes called
"Siwash") had wars with the more belligerent Yakima
"meat-eaters," as the^^ were called. As the story goes,
the Yakimas would steal the canoes of the Siwash In-
dians. The Siwashes would retreat into a cove in the
proximity of the oyster beds; at night they would steal
out and get their favorite foods (oysters and clams) when
the tides were out. In time the Yakimas having satisfied
their hunger for sea foods and taking a quantity with
them, would return home.

Newell Ellison of Mud Bay has given me another
story as it came to him from generations of his ancestry.
In the very early days there was a fierce Indian tribe
in British Columbia who raided the Mud Bay Indians.
They came down in their large war canoes and it was not
only oysters and clams they were after, but they cap-
tured women and children and took them home and held
them as slaves.

The native oyster played it's part not only as an incen-
tive for these raids, but later helped in bringing the tribes
together in friendship and brotherly love. An Indian of
the Mud Bay locality, a Chief and a good man, as the
story goes, died and remained dead about three days; he
then came back to life. He said he had been in the "Hap-
py Hunting Ground" of the Indians where the Great

(10)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol})mpia Oyster

Father had told him that he must return to his people
and preach to them and get them to stop drinking and
fighting, as they were all brothers.

Their "back from the dead" brother then set about
organizing a new religion which he called the "Indian
Shaker Church". It seemed to be a mixture of Catholi-
cism and Protestantism. It embodied the rules for
righteous living contained in the Ten Commandments
and the Golden Rule. This was an opportune time for
such a religion. The "Firewater" (as whiskey was called)
brought in by the v/hiteS; was turning the Indians into
demons; they fought, they became thieves, and they
v/ould violate any law of God or man to get liquor. The
mission of this new religion was to turn them from these
things and bring them together as brothers living in
peace.

The "Indian Shaker Church" seemed to appeal to
the Indian's natural instincts. It grew rapidly among the
tribes of the Northwest. Mud Bay was the head church.
"Mud Bay Sam" was for many years the head man, a
sort of Priest. The converts constructed a church on the
hill west of Mud Bay and in sight of the Olympia Oyster
beds and each year they held a "Camp Meeting" lasting
for a week or ten days. Invitations to other tribes were
appealing. They announced large feasts of Olympia
Oysters, clams and salmon. It was understood these
would be cooked in accordance with Indian custom.
Great crowds attended these meetings; thus the Olympia
Oyster performed a real service, lov many Indians joined
the Faith, and friendship was established among the
tribes.

(11)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Perhaps digression would be pardoned should I
briefly describe one of the church services held during a
convention which I attended as a guest of "Mud Bay
Sam."

The feast of oysters, clams and fish, held out of doors,
had been completed; the church bell peeled out the an-
nouncement that the meeting was about to start. The
crowd swarmed into the church which was too small to
hold them all; silence prevailed for a few moments, then
the meeting was opened by "Mud Bay Sam". He spoke
in a slow, deliberate manner, using the Chinook dialect
which was then understood by most Indians. He was
followed by two or three other prominent Indians. Their
talks implored their brothers to lead a better life; they
then waited in silence for the Great Father to move them.

On a shelf at the front of the church were many hand-
bells; directly an Indian slowly came forward, picked up
a bell in each hand and started a slow, up and down,
ringing of the bells, then an up and down step and a
chant in rhythm — another and then another followed,
until the entire space which had been cleared, was filled.
As it continued it became more spirited — the bells peel-
ed louder, the chant stronger and the step became a jump,
until the entire building shook. It reminded me of the
pictures of a Congo Tum Tum dance. This continued on
and on into the night; as one became too exhausted to
continue, he or she would apparently go into a trance
and drop down. Another would grab the bells and carry
on. I was told that as the participant proceeded he con-
centrated on the Holy Spirit then he began to see visions,
and by the time he became exhausted and went into a

(12)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

trance he was in the presence of the Great Father.

This was the condition in Western Washington, when
the Pioneers succeeded in penetrating the forests sur-
rounding Puget Sound and came on to the shores of this
body of water, where they first beheld "oceans of oysters
and clams". Pure cool streams of water came into nearly
every cove; the salt water was pure and unpolluted. At
first the main tendency of the whites was to join the In-
dians in enjoying an easy living.

No longer a slave of ambition,

I laugh at the world and its shams.

As I think of my happ"^ condition

Surrounded by Acres Of Oysters and Clams!

And now that Tm used to the climate,
I think that if man ever found
A place to be peaceful and quiet.
That spot is on Puget Sound.

But to some, as new conditions developed, oyster cul-
ture became a challenge in their lives which so interested
them that they never got away from it. It is about these
people that I am writing.

EARLY LAWS PERTAINING TO OYSTER LAND.

Prior to 1889, when Vv^ashington became a State, the
titles to all tide lands were still in the United States
Government. The title to tide land was vested in the
State of Washington through statehood.

Before that time the tide land, especially where oys-
ters and clams were found, had been occupied by the

(13)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

native Indians. For centuries the "Siwash" or "Fish Eat-
ers" as they were called had made the oyster and clam,
the salmon and other sea foods their principal diet. They
had constructed their '"Teepees" on the shores of the
more favored spots; then, as the white settlers began to
come and villages and small towns to develop the In-
dians found that the v/hites were also fond of sea food
and that they could get as much as 25 cents for a basket
of the small delicious oysters. In Olympia, Tacoma and
Seattle it was a common sight to see the Indians on the
street corners or in the m.arkets with a basket of oysters
for sale. In Seattle "Chief Seattle" became quite a fam-
ous personage as he peddled his oysters around the
streets and markets of the city dressed in Indian blankets
and feathered head gear.

Some of the oyster beds had been occupied by Indian
maidens, or Indian v/idows to whom unattached white
settlers became "Klutchmen". Marriages under Indian
customs were later challenged in court, especially where
title to property was involved.

The importance of adopting a policy to foster the
development of our natural resources and especially the
culture of oysters, was recognized by the first State Leg-
islature and in 1890 the Legislature passed what has
been known as the "Callow Act".

The "Callow Act" only provided for the sale of na-
tural oyster land which had been occupied and the
oysters cultivated on and after March 26, 1890. It provid-
ed that one who had so occupied and cultivated oyster
land might make application for the purchase thereof
through the State Land Office. It was necessary to have

(14)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

surveyed the land so occupied and a map therof prepared
and filed with the application. To encourage the industry
a very low price was fixed upon the oyster land, but the
State deed provided a reversionary right by the State
of Washington to take the land back in case it was used
for any purpose other than the cultivation of oysters.

THE FIRST OYSTER LAND OWNERS.

The maps showing these oyster lands and filed with
the State Land Commissioner had the names of the allot-
tees written upon them and those maps are still on file in
that office. Thereafter, on March 2, 1895, the State Legis-
lature passed another law known as the "Bush Act."
This law gave any citizen the right to file on oyster land,
whether he had previously cultivated oysters on it or not.
However, it assured the use of the land for oyster culture
by providing in the deed that if the land was used for
any other purpose than the cultivation of oysters, upon
application of any citizen, after a hearing, the deed could
be cancelled and resold. Further, if the land, or any part
thereof was found to be unfit for cultivation of oysters
the purchaser might have it cancelled and take other
land.

And so it happens that these m.aps disclose the names
of those applicants, many of whom were Indians. The
Indians filed upon the land which they were occupying
and this land in many instances was the choicest oyster
land to be found. Some of the names of these original
applicants and purchasers of oyster land were: Olympia
Jim., Mary Olympia Jim, William Krise, James Tobin,
Sandy Wohaut, Dick Jackson, Joe Gale, Jim Simmons,

(15)

Th'Z Rise And Decline Of The Ol])mpia Oyster

Little Charley, Mud Bay Lewis, Mud Bay Tom, Mud Bay
Charley, George Leshi, and Mollie Peters.

Among the names of the first white men who took up
oyster land appear the following: S. K. Taylor, Jesse B.
Bowman, H. R. Weatherill, A. S. Ruth, WilHam H. Knee-
land, David H. Helser, J. Y. Waldrip, Charles Brenner,
Z. F. Simmons, C. N. Allen, C. R. Talcott, John Blass, A.
D. Simmons, W. J. Doane, J. J. Brenner, and E. N. Steele;
also, the Olympia Oyster Investment Co., J. H. Deer,
Thomas O'Neil and A. L. McDonald. Of these, it is inter-
esting to note and make comment on several.

W. J. Doane (com.monly known as Captain Doane) was
better known for his "Doane's Oyster House" than as an
oyster grower; his Oyster House became famous far and
wide for his "Doane's Olympia Oyster Pan Roast." It
became recognized by oyster connoisseurs as the last
word in the preparation and service of the most delicious
little oyster in the whole world. As a result he had many
inquiries from restauranteurs from other cities and
towns who wished to serve them, so he became the first
one to discover the commercial value of the native oyster.

J. J. Brenner, who has been in the Olympia Oyster
business, both as a grower, a packer and a shipper, longer
than any other living man, is affectionately known as
''Jack". He was one of those present as an honored guest
at the Golden Anniversary Banquet; he was at that time
96 years of age but vigorous of mind, able to discuss any
feature of the oyster business from it's beginning. In
writing this thesis, I realize that no part of it can be told,
either in the field of oyster culture, the development of
the shucking and packing of oysters or the development

(16)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

ot the markets, without the mention of J. J. Brenner.
The story of Mr. Brenner's life is enveloped in, and be-
comes a part of the story of the Olympia Oyster.

Mr. Brenner was a Charter Member and served as
Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the
Olympia Oyster Growers Association from it's beginning
until 1937 when he resigned and was succeeded by his
son E. G. Brenner.

W. H. Kneeland was an original filer upon important
oyster land; he, Joe Y. Waldrip, Ole Hanson, and G. W.
Draham (son-in-law of W. H. Kneeland) was made presi-
dent of the Olympia Oyster Co., and served as such for
many years, he also has taken a leading part in the his-
tory of the Olympia Oyster. Mr. Kneeland passed on
many years ago, but George W. Draham was one of those
honored at the Golden Anniversary Banquet; at this Ban-
quet he responded to a toast and his response was full of
humor and stories of the old days. As president of the
Olympia Oyster Company George has also taken an ac-
tive part in all phases of the industry — the growing,
packing and marketing of the Olympia Oyster.

The Olympia Oyster Co., represented by Mr. Draham,
was a Charter member of the Olympia Oyster Growers
Association. George was elected vice president and di-
rector at the first meeting and continued to serve until
1941. The records show that during all those years he at-
tended every regular meeting and m.issed very few
committee meetings

The writer of this thesis — E. N. Steele, was the third
and youngest honored guest as a Pioneer; his age was 74

(17)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'^mpia Oyster

years and he has been in the Olympia Oyster business for
over 50 years. His connection with the Olympia Oyster
industry will creep into this story from time to time as
it is written, because of a personal contact and particip-
ation in the recorded events as herein set out. He was a
charter member of the Olympia Oyster Growers Associ-
ation and served as secretary and a director until he
resigned in December 1941, a. total of over 35 years.

I wish at this point to memorialize one who dedicated
a large part of his life to the Olympia Oyster industry.
He did not live to be honored at the Golden Anniversary
Banquet, except in the hearts and memories of those in
attendance.

The Olympia Oyster Investment Co., (a Corporation)
filed on very important oyster land under the Callow
Act. Dr. George W. Ingham was it's president; as such
he signed the Constitution and By-Laws of the Olympia
Oyster Growers Association and was elected it's first
president. Thereafter, year after year, he was re-elected
as president. For thirty-three years he presided at every
called meeting of the Association. He was Chairman of
the Board of Directors, appointed all committees, and at-
tended all meetings of both directors and committees.

From my earliest recollection, the Olympia Oyster
and the scientific development of it's culture was Dr.
Ingham's only hobby. While he was a busy and success-
ful Doctor of Medicine, yet he always seemed to find time
to participate in his hobby. It was a mental and physical
release from the strain of his busy professional career.
He was loved by all, and the Olympia Oyster industry is
greatly indebted to him for his progressive and active

(18)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

part taken in it's development. He was influential in the
development of the Standards of Health adopted by the
State Department pertaining to the growing, opening
and packing of Olympia Oysters. ,

George Ingham's beloved widow, now 83 years of age,
was present at the "Golden Anniversary Banquet." Her
presence was greatly enjoyed by all. She was always
greatly interested in her husband's work and especially
in his interest in the Oyster industry. She has shared his
joys and disappointm.ents in life. The life of the wife of a
doctor is one of waiting and watching for the return of
the husband from some emergency call. There were no
regular hours in the life of Dr. Ingham, especially in the
days of horse and buggy transportation and few, if any
hospitals. Added to this was his hobby, the Olympia
Oyster, which in itself causes one to live by the tide book.

Dr. Ingham loved to don his old clothes and rubber
boots, and by personal inspection observe the oysters
and figure out new methods of assisting nature to grow
two oysters where only one grew before. (See picture).

Another who took part at the "Golden Anniversary
Banquet" was Harley Post. Harley was an electrician by
profession. He was a public spirited man and had served
his state as state senator. He was indeed an early
pioneer of this part of the country. His father operated a
livery stable in Olympia in the early 1900's. I remember
renting a horse and buggy from him, to get down to the
oyster beds about 1904.

Harley was always interested in the Olympia Oyster,
and about the year 1920 he purchased and began the
development of beds in Oyster Bay. From that time on

(19)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

to the time of his death, which occurred in 1956, he was
an active member of the Olympia Oyster Growers As-
sociation. At the "Golden Anniversary Banquet" as
previously stated, he acted as toastmaster.

Before we go into the activities of these men, both as
individuals and as members and officials of the Olympia
Oyster Growers Association, let us take a look at this
little animal which lured them on with captivating inter-
est. Much has been written about the lure of gold and the
tremendous sacrifices of men in quest of it; also the hard-
ships of the fishermen of the early days, the seal hunters
and the explorers. What was there about this little shell
fish, hidden away in the remote waters of Puget Sound,
that caused these men to dedicate their lives to its de-
velopment and distribution?

Oysters from time immemorial, have been considered
a delicacy. In the days of the far reaching Roman Empire,
history records that swift runners traveled in relays
carrying fresh oysters from Britania to the tables of Ro-
man emperors. Nero gave magnificent banquets at
which he ate oysters and "fiddled" as on the night of the
burning of Rome. He called them "delicious". But Nero
lived about two thousand years too soon to know the real
meaning of that word when applied to oysters. If Olym-
pia Oysters had been available he would have made them
famous for all time; he would have proposed a toast
something like this:

"Olympia, the home of the Gods, Olympia Oysters,
food of the Gods."

The Olympia Oyster pioneers who discovered this
delicacy did not have a background in history to adver-

(20)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

tise and proclaim the virtues of their discovery. They
recognized it's quality and it became their ambition to
let the people know that the "Pearl of all Oysters" grew
in our own waters.

Adjectives describe many things, but it is difficult to
describe a delicate flavor with words. "Luscious, ex-
quisite, delightful, delicate, food for the Gods, the
aristocrat of all oysters" — all are descriptive words
that have been used to glorify it, but after all has been
said, the real test is in the eating; an experience in eating
speaks more eloquently than words.

The Olympia Oyster has been described as a "very
small oyster." Hal Boyle the columnist once described
them as "forty to the dozen"; in fact there are over three
hundred to the pint when shucked. The size removes the
objection often heard, especially by the ladies, to other
oysters and classifies them as "delicate."

The biology of the Olympia Oyster I shall leave to
others. As to it's food value, chemical analysis shows
that it abounds in valuable minerals and very little fat;
an ideal food for waistline watchers, and as good for the
health as the taste.

To supply the public with such an article of food, to
develop it's cultivation, it's processing, it's distribution,
was the challenge experienced by these pioneers and the
interest which they took in their work continued through
the years.

(21)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'^mpia Oyster

Early Day CullaEig, Cuifivating, Marketing,
Openings and Packing - Inception of Diking

System

UP TO THE TIME OF THE PASSAGE OF THE
"Callow Act" in 1890 the native oysters were not culti-
vated; they grew wild, sc to speak. The Indians would go
out on the beds and pick up what oysters they wanted to
eat and dump the shells near their camp; where the tide
flats were uneven with ridges of gravel piled up by the
waves, the oysters were reefed and in places several
inches deep — nothing was done to level out the beds
or distribute more evenly the accumulation of oysters.
The Indians accepted nature and it's bounties as they
found them; there was always a plenty to supply their
needs as well as early local sales which they made in
the nearby settlements. As a general rule, transporta-
tion was by water in their dugout cedar log canoes and

(22)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

the oysters were carried and delivered in their Indian
baskets.

The white settlers were not satisfied with that; soon
after they acquired title they began to find and develop
a market — in Olympia, Captain Doane opened and oper-
ated "Doane's Oyster House."

The white settlers finding that picking the oysters
from the beds when the tide was out was too slow and
inefficientjConceived the idea of what was known as a top
float. They took two cedar logs of equal size (about 30 feet
long) used cedar cross pieces to hold the logs about six
feet apart, then covered them with heavy rough lumber.
This provided a floating platform which could be mov-
ed when the tide was in, by use of long poles (push poles
as they were called). They would, at low tide, mark with
poles, tall slender fir trees about 18 or 20 feet in length
thrust into the tide flat where the oysters were abundant,
and take the top float to these markers on high tide. The
top float could be held in place by poles pushed into the
tide flat, at two opposite corners of the float. At low tide
oysters could then be thrown onto the top float, the large
(or marketable oysters) culled out when the tide was in
and the small oysters again scattered out on the beds for
further growth. The marketable oysters were then put in
baskets or other containers and taken to market. Thus
the first step was taken toward oyster culture.

Culling oysters on the top float in the rain and blus-
tery winter weather Vv^hen the demand for oysters was
at a peak, was most difficult and objectionable and the
need for another development soon found it's answer.

(23)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

The "Culling House" with benches on which to place the
oysters for culling, and a fire to keep the cullers warm
and comfortable while doing their work, was worked out.
Large cedar logs were assembled, fastened together by
cross pieces and covered by a floor which afforded the
foundation for a small house called a "Culling House."
At first these culling houses were small, perhaps twelve
or fourteen feet wide and fourteen or fifteen feet long,
but as time went on and the development of the oyster
beds and demands of the market increased, culling
became a family operation and the houses were increased
in size with living quarters in one end of the building.

The culling house, when completed, was anchored in
the nearest available cove so that a top float could come
alongside and the culling house could be more or less
protected from wind and storm. The oysters were then
carried in and placed on the culling tables where the
cullers could work in comfort. The young oysters (or
culls) were then put back on the top float and replaced
on the beds for further growth.

Another need for development was soon felt. — When
the oysters were loaded on the top float they were dirty
and some method of washing them before they were
taken into the culling house must be found, Again, the
cedar log, then abundant on the shores of Puget Sound,
v/as the answer. When the top float was turned over
before the floor was put on, the cross pieces were under
the water and when the tide was out, the floor was nailed
in. When the tide came in this floor was twelve to eigh-
teen inches under the water and was known as a sink
float; the oysters were forked into this sink float and

(24)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol-^mpia Oyster

washed before they were culled. While in the sink float
they were protected from heat and cold. The sink float
answered another purpose; after the oysters were culled
they were put into the sink float again which enabled
them to continue to feed and live until they were taken
to market and also protected them from freezing or too
much sun.

At first, getting the oysters to town for market was
very difficult, but as the need became felt and the pos-
sibilities of a new freight business became apparent,
boats were fitted up suitable for carrying the oysters. The
boats would sometimes make two or three trips a day
into Oyster Bay and Mud Bay when necessary to pick up
and take the oysters to market from the many culling
houses which were now located in said bays.

The first boat making regular trips to Olympia with
Olympia Oysters was an 18-foot boat called the Polly
(owned by J. Y. Waldrip and Jess Bowman) and it was
powered by a one-cylinder two-cycle gas engine. It was
subject to frequent break-downs as is testified to by
Humphrey Nelson, who (as a passenger) , spent a night
floating around the Bay in 1902. In 1905, Captain Volney
Young put on a boat named "Mizpa" which was a steam-
boat about 40 feet long and used wood for fuel which was
supplied by settlers along the shores of Oyster Bay and
Little Skookum. In a few years this boat was outmoded
by new boats with shallow draft, more power, and a
greater capacity for oysters. The oysters were increasing
very rapidlj^ and new boats came on the run as needed.
The "Chickeree" and then the "Traveler" captained by
Charley Cheadle, were next. The "Traveler" had an ex-

(25)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

plosion and fire and Captain Cheadle lost his life.
Between 1910 and 1915 Captain Chris Grinrod operated
the "Lark" and the "Hyak." The "Noble" (owned and
operated by Ira Noble) then the "Leota" and "Dove"
(owned and operated by John and Robert Wallin) came
into service on the Olympia Oyster run. At one time it
took three large, fast boats to carry the oysters from
Oyster Bay, Mud Bay and Little Skookum, in addition
to oysters taken on irregular runs by the larger oyster
producers. As the industry declined this was reduced to
two boats, then to one, and finally none.

EARLY OPENING AND PACKING.

By the time these problems were worked out, plans
were in progress to develop markets for these oysters.
At first all oysters were sold in the shell. Captain Doane
had a Chinaman who opened his oysters. Each restaurant
or hotel had to provide their own opener; often the open-
er had his booth fixed up in the window, thus providing
a very attractive advertisement. The oyster actually
went from the shell into the pan, the stew or the cocktail.
This, in turn, created a desire by the public to use them
as a family food. The opening process was slow and dif-
ficult for the housewife. This need was observed by our
old friend J. J. Brenner, who opened up a small Olympia
Oyster House in Olympia in the year 1898; from this
place of business oysters were shipped, both in the shell
and opened. (See picture).

To keep pace with these developments in taking care
of the culling and preparing of the oysters for market,
and the marketing of them, what was being done on the

(26)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

beds for the cultivation of oysters?

At first the oysters vv^ere in abundant supply as nature
had provided them. It soon became apparent that in order
that the supply be continued, a system of taking up and
re-planting had to be followed. Even in those days it took
four years to grow an oyster. The beds were worked so
that a crop would be available each year. Oyster growers
had made observations as to where the heaviest sets of
seed took place. Also, that new clean shell, put on the
seed ground in June or early July, during the spawning
season, was particularly suitable for seed to attach to;
in fact, much better than old, dirty shell, mussels or
barnacles. So, the shell from the opening houses was
saved and then taken back on the beds and spread on
higher levels for seed, and this greatly increased the seed
supply.

INCEPTION OF A SYSTEM OF DIKING.

By the year 1900 the oyster growers became alive to
the value of the Olym.pia Oyster industry and with opti-
mism they began to think in terms of extending the
natural oyster beds. Realizing the im.portance of catching
more seed in order to do this, observations as to what
conditions were most suitable for seed setting were being
made. An oyster grower in Sv/indle Cove, Oakland Bay,
by the name of Anton Heilenburger, observed that in
places where water was held behind a ridge of gravel,
even though located on the tide flats on higher levels
where otherwise no set of seed took place, seed caught in
abundance. He conceived the idea of artificially holding
the water by use of sunken logs or the placing of boards,

(27)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'^mpia Oyster

or gravel filled in between two boards, which were held
in place by stakes. In this way a few inches of water
would be held. Soon after J. J. Brenner began to use this
system on Mud Bay.

These seeds of thought soon produced more seeds of
oysters and from it a system of leveling and diking was
developed which eventually meant so much to the cul-
ture of oysters.

GAS LAUNCH NOBLE coining from Oyster Bay run loaded with
sacks of Olympia Oysters, under Skipper John Wallin.

(28)

(29)

The Rise And Decline Of The Objmpia Oysiet

How tl^e "©if mpia Oysfer" Received
if-s Name

THIS WAS THE STATUS OF THE OYSTER BUSINESS
when I arrived in Olympia in September 1903. My first
meal consisted of a "Doane's Olympia Oyster Pan Roast."
I had found the spot where the manna from heaven was
to be had. Little did I realize that through guidance of
Providence I was to find my way into the habitat of this
delicious little bivalve, become interested in the practical
and the scientific development of it's culture, harvesting
and marketing, with a summer home on the shore above
an oyster bed on which Olympia Oysters were grown
and which I was to own and operate for the rest of my
life. I was then a young man of 22 years, just graduated
from law school of the State of Iowa; on a trip to see the
wonders of the great Northwest, the land of the setting

(30)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

sun, with a return trip ticket but no money in my pocket.
I was entirely undecided as to where I should put out my
shingle. The return trip ticket was never used.

A few days after my first introduction to the Olympia
Oyster, a friend whom I had met invited me to join a
small yachting party. Through some quirk of fate we
came into Oyster Bay and pulled up alongside an
oyster float. Lying on the float in the sun was an Indian
girl. It later developed that she was the daughter of Dick
Jackson, an Indian who had taken up oyster beds and
lived there. His oyster land was adjoining other oyster
beds of Sandy and Ti]sa Wohaut, famous old Indian
characters, which land I afterward bought. At this mo-
ment I am sitting at the window of the cottage where I
have lived during many summers and reared my family.
I am also watching our bed manager as he sets his scow
to move seed oysters. Pictures of these oyster beds with
dikes, both of creosote lumber and cement construction,
and of the culling house and floats, were published in
Document No. 1086 by the Department of Commerce,
Bureau of Fisheries in 1929, on pages 379 to 383.

To return to our visit with the Jackson girl. Alongside
the top float Vv^here she was sunning was a sink float
with a quantity of Olympia Oysters. We purchased some
from her, took them back to Olympia, and enjoyed an-
other feast of Olympia Oysters. As a result of these
experiences I decided to locate in Olympia, and in due
time had hung out my shingle and established a law
practice.

My interest seemed to center around the Olympia
Oj^ster and it's history; from the start I gained informa-

(31)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

tion as to its history up to that time. I met the people who
were pioneering the industry and became attorney for
the Indians who were engaged in litigation to defend
their fishing rights. Through these connections the op-
portunity to acquire about seven acres of undeveloped
oyster land was taken advantage of and in later years
added to. At that time the first developments herein set
out had already taken place in the cultivation, harvest-
ing, and marketing of Olympia Oysters. The first night
visit I made to Oyster Bay many lights were visible in
the southern, or upper flats, of Oyster Bay. Men were out
gathering oysters on the low night tide. I learned that
when the winter harvesting time was on the lights from
the oyster harvesters so resembled a town that it was
called Oysterville.

One of the questions that came to me was "Why was
the oyster called the Olympia Oyster." All references I
could find in Government reports referred to them as
Native Western oysters. From one who had participated
in it, I was told the following story:

After Washington was given it's statehood in 1889,
the question arose as to where the Capital should be lo-
cated; Olympia had been the Territorial Capital. How-
ever, other cities both east and west of the mountains,
became contestants to be made the Capital of this new
and rapidly growing state. The people of Olympia were
thus brought together and worked as a unit to save
Olympia as the Capital City. It was put to a vote of the
people and the contest became very spirited. The people
of Olympia got their heads together and planned a cam-
paign; they arranged for public meetings in many of the

(32)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

most populated points in Eastern Washington, supplied
themselves with a goodly quantity of oysters and the
battle was on. Their arguments why the Capital should
remain in Olympia were many and forcefully stated, but
the clinching argum^ent was the oyster dinner following
the meeting. They created a warmth and friendly spirit
and the oysters were so well liked that much publicity
was given, not only to the merit of the arguments, but to
the merit of the oysters.

I was told that the oyster dinners were closed by
recital of this little jingle:

Said one oyster to another

In a tone of pure delight

I will meet you in the kitchen

And we'll both get stewed tonight.

Olympia won the election, and the oyster dinners
were given the credit. From that time on, the oysters
were known as "Olympia Oysters."

Doubtless the fact that Olympia was the closest city
to the heart or center of this new industry and the cen-
tral shipping point, also had something to do with adop-
tion of that name. At that time Olympia Oyster beds
covered that area nov/ known as Capital Lake, claimed in
Territorial days by the Chinese, and also the area on both
sides of the Bay, extending North to Priest Point Park,
formerly claimed by the Indians. For sanitary reasons
these beds soon had to be abandoned and the use of the
oysters for food was prohibited. On the west side, across
from the present Capital buildings, there was a favorite
spot where "Gloomy Gus" the tramp had his favorite

(33)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

camp. He was not concerned with the health regulations
and he did love Olympia Oysters. He would slip out on
the night tide, secure a supply of Olympia Oysters and
the next day he was King of Shanty Town, as he ban-
queted his friends. This continued for years after I came
to Olympia.

For over a half century in publicity matters the Olym-
pia Oyster and the City of Olympia have proclaimed
each other's virtues. At a Chamber of Commerce dinner
it was stated that enough advertising and newsprint
about Olympia Oysters and Olympia had been published,
that if placed end to end would encircle the world.

(34)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Development of Grading and Diking Sysf'em

IN A PREVIOUS CHAPTER I HAVE COVERED THE
early development of the cultivation of Olympia Oysters
to the point of discovery of the method of catching more
seed by the creation of pools of water behind some logs
or lumber placed in such a way that the water would be
retained at low tide. This idea developed very rapidly
from the experimental stage. It was soon found that the
area could be increased by leveling down the beach be-
hind the dike so that the water covered it. This led, in
turn, to the creation of a dike by driving into the tide-
flat short boards of uniform length, driven perpendic-
ulary. These boards were one inch in thickness, usually
twelve inches wide, and in length depending on the de-
sired level the oysterman wished for his water-level.
Having decided the desired water level, stakes were

(35)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

driven firmly into the tide flat and a board, 12 to 16 ft. in
length, placed against and nailed to these stakes parallel
with the tide flat, and perfectly level. This level would
be approximately six inches above the ground level de-
sired, as that had been found to be the best depth of the
water to be retained. Then the short boards would be
driven perpendicular, tight against the horizontal board,
and against each other, making a dike two inches in
thickness. This dike could be extended as far as was
practical, considering the contour of the beach.

LEVELING THE OYSTER BEDS.

The area inside this dike would then be filled and
leveled with dirt from the shore side. Sometimes the dike
would require a fill of two or three feet to bring it up to
the desired level. To do this log floats would be used. The
place where the cut was to be made would be marked
by stakes when the tide was out. When the tide came in,
floats would be brought and set in place by the use of an-
chor poles thrust into the bottom. When the tide went out
again workmen, using what was known as a "mud fork"
dug down to the desired depth and loaded it onto the
floats. On the high tide this "oyster mud" would be
floated out to the area to be filled behind the dike. The
bed would eventually be level both where filled and
where cut down. This was a slow and tiresome process,
for to be a success the entire area behind the dike had
to be level as a floor, carrying a water level of approxi-
mately six inches in depth to protect the oysters from the
heat of summer and the cold of winter. On some beaches
as many as five dike levels have been used.

(36)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

EXTENT OF DEVELOPMENT

This system of diking increased the production of oys-
ters very rapidly. Practically all oyster culturists
adopted it. In the summer season when the tides were out
in the day time, Oyster Bay, Mud Bay, Oakland Bay and
Little Skookum were alive with diking activities. The
areas where oysters thrived in their natural state were
greatly expanded. The Olympia Oyster Co., The Olympia
Oyster Investment Co., the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co., and
some of the smaller growers carried this work into the
winter, even though the work had to be done at night,
as the tides in winter only go out far enough at night.
Through the years the oyster areas were expanded until
there was a total of approximately four hundred acres
of oyster land under dike.

DIFFICULTIES IN CONSTRUCTION.

It is difficult to comprehend the great amount of
work done, and the length of time it took. The dike work
was slow, as it had to be done by hand labor at low tide.
The tides only permitted from four to six hours each day
of construction. Then the material for the next day's
work had to be prepared, loaded on floats and taken out
on high tide. From fifty to one hundred feet of dike per
day, depending on the height of the dike and length of
the tide, was a good day's work for four men. In later
years some machinery was used by the Olympia Oyster
Co. and others of the larger companies, who developed
machines on large floats with drag lines and scrapers,
and loaded the fill mud onto large dump scows. Other

(37)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

oystermen adopted smaller types of labor saving equip-
ment. But at best, the work went very slowly. I recall one
instance, the leveling of what is known as "Dike One" of
The Olympia Oyster Company, in Oyster Bay. It is, I
believe, the largest oyster dike in existence, about fifteen
acres. They had a flotilla of oyster equipment and work-
ed summer and winter. Yet it took between three and
four years to do the leveling. (See picture).

ONE GROWER'S EXPERIENCE.

As I sit here I am looking out over my own eighteen
acres of dike land. It has five dike levels, terraces follow-
ing the curved beach and the natural contour of the tide
flat. The dikes are from two feet to four feet in depth.
Most of these dikes have been built three or four times.
In the very early days with untreated lumber, then re-
placed by dikes using lumber treated with creosote. This
lumber had been permeated under pressure with creosote
to withstand the action of teredoes, a boring mollusk,
which eat up and destroy untreated lumber dikes in two
or three years. In many instances in rebuilding a dike it
has been found advisable to change and re-locate part of
it, to prevent deposit of mud by the tides.

Then it was found that cement would harden under
water. A permanent dike seemed to be the thing, even
though it's construction was slow and costly. The advant-
ages and disadvantages were discussed in many
Association meetings. Fifteen years had elapsed since I
had started to put in any creosote lumber dikes, and they
needed replacement, so I started to rebuild them with
cement. First the form, or about one hundred feet of it,

(38)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol})mpia Oyster

would be put in, using untreated lumber. This had to be
strong enough to hold the cement. Then sand, gravel, and
cement would be loaded on floats or scows and taken out
to where it was to be used. At first, a hand operated ce-
ment mixer was used. Later power driven mixers
speeded the construction. The cement was poured into
the forms at low tide, carefully leveled on top, and by
the next tide, it would be hardened enough to be ex-
tended.

This work continued year after year. Even in summer
there are only an average of twenty days each month
that the tides are low enough to allow work on the beds.
It took thirty five years, beginning each year with the
first daylight tides about the first of April until the dark
tides in September, working from four to ten men, to do
the job.

Another thing that delays the dike work is the weath-
er. Especially in the spring, one may have several loads
of rpud, or if constructing dike, several floats filled v/ith
material, and a storm suddenly come up and play havoc.
The mud Vv^ashes from the scows or material washes off
and goes scooting down the bay. The storm sometime
lasts for days, and all that can be done is to wait for
better weather.

The investm.ent that is necessary to accomplish this
work is tremendous. My own investment in development
of the dike area has been approximately five thousand
dollars per acre. I would say that the average cost of
construction of all diked land is over four thousand dol-
lars per acre. I have about one-half mile of cement dike,
fourteen inch base, eight inch top, four feet high; numer-

(39)

The Rise And Decline Of The Oly^mpia Oyster

ous cross dikes and lower dikes of cement, and at least
one mile of creosote lumber dikes.

I have given this rather in detail because it is my per-
sonal experience, and I know the facts. During this time
I was an official of the Olympia Oyster Growers Associa-
tion, made inspection trips to the beds of most of the
growers, and heard the experiences of others. This ex-
ample is typical of other growers experience and costs.

LIFE OF AN OYSTERMAN — NOT AN EASY ONE

The life of the oysterman, and especially the pioneer,
was and is a rugged one. When asked why I have stayed
with it, my answer is "because I love it." And I believe
that is true of every oysterman. Everyday there is a new
challenge in life; new problems to work out. The out-of-
door and on the water life is wholesome and healthful.
And most of all, the Olympia Oyster is a food one is hap-
py to produce. It has made millions of people delighted
and full of praise to those who produce it. I would not do
otherwise if I had it to do again; my life has been a happy
one, much more so than if I had been occupied in distaste-
ful employment, though I might have accumulated more
material wealth. I believe this feeling is shared by all
old timers in the oyster business.

(40)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

Seeding and Cylf'ivating Olympia Oysfers

BUT AFTER THE DIKING AND LEVELING HAS
been done, what then?

The Olympia Oyster is four to five years of age when
harvested. The higher level dikes are generally the seed
dikes. Each oysterman has studied his ground and knows
where seed sets the best. The deeper levels usually grow
a better marketable oyster, a fatter and more firm oyster,
with a beautiful velvet rim. The Olympia Oyster (Ostrea
lurida) is a bi-sexual animal; the organism of both male
and female being within the same shell. In the spring, as
the waters warm, the male sperms are thrown in-
to the water. Later, generally in early June, the eggs
which have been produced and held inthe shell are fertil-
ized by male sperms which the oyster has taken in
as it feeds. The oysterman then knows spawning time

(41)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

is approaching. As he opens an oyster here or there on
the beds, he finds first a quantity of white, milky sub-
stance, which he know^s to be the first development stage.
Later, as it grows and becomes dark, the oysterman
knov/s the spawning season is at hand, and that the set-
ting time, usually starting early in July, is about three
weeks av/ay. The embryo when released from the shell
into the water is a free swimming oyster for about eight-
een days.

At this stage of its development the oyster is so small
that you cannot see it without a microscope. A fish or
something generally swallows it by mistake before it be-
comes visible. Only one in a million is lucky enough to
grow up and be stewed. It swims around by means of its
microscopic cilia, or eyelashes. If it knew its future it
would continue to do this the rest of its days, but it
starts to develop a shell, sinks to the bottom and fastens
itself to a shell or some other type of cultch with a bit
of glue which it carries with it for that purpose. This
process is called seed setting.

The oyster plays a useful role because he's edible.

The way he side steps birth-control is nothing but incredible.

The sons and daughters he begets are numbered, by the myriad.

They're known as spats the little brats throughout their baby

period.

The Way he multiplies his kind he merits no apologist.
And keeping track would wreck the mind of any geneologist.
Of course as parents do, he likes his kiddies, sad or humorous.
But he cant name the little tykes, because they're too numerous*

(42)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

The oysterman knows that if he is to get maximum
setting he must have his seed ground covered with a
suitable cultch. In the early days it was observed that
clean shell was the best. These were obtained from the
oyster opening houses where the shell had been saved
and piled for this use. So the oysterman would secure the
amount he needed, bring it to his beds and spread it upon
the ground he had cleaned for use as a seed bed just as
near the time the setting took place as he could, so that
the set would take place before the shell became silted
p.nd dirty.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CULTCH.

In time the demand for the shell for cultch became
greater than the supply. A biologist, Dr. A. E. Hopkins,
was successful in his experiments with a new type of
cultch, later known as the "Hopkins' Collector." He took
egg crate fillers, dipped them in a thin solution of ce-
ment, lime, sand, and water; then let them dry slowly. At
the proper time these were placed on the seed ground.
The surface was clean and rough enough for the baby
oysters to cling to. These were found to be a highly ef-
ficient cultch, and millions of them were used. Also fish
net dipped in cement and lath dipped in cement, dried
and placed on the seed ground, have been used.

MOVING SEED AND MATURING THEM.

After the set of seed had taken place, it became the
practice to leave it for about two years until it had taken
on sufficient growth to be moved.

(43)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

At this point the moving takes place. The oysterman
has been marketing his oysters and has dikes that are
cleaned up ready for a new crop.

The same method is used in moving seed as is used in
moving oysters. The seed oysters are removed from an
area large enough to set the scow. The seed is forked by
hand onto the scow v/hich is lifted by the incoming tide
and then moved to the place where they are to be spread,
which has been marked by stakes. The oysters are scat-
tered from the scow at high tide, and the seed have found
a new home.

These oysters are left for two to three years to mature
and fatten. Then in the winter months when markets are
available they are taken up on floats again, taken to the
culling house where they are washed in the sink float,
placed on the culling table, the marketable oysters re-
moved and put in another sink float to await the boat to
take them to the opening or shucking house; the culls,
which include many small oysters, are taken back and
placed on the beds to mature for market.

(44)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Oyster Land Titles - Isolcsted Tracts --
Reversionary Rights

BANG WENT THE GAVEL

Time: 2:00 o'clock p.m., June 21, 1915.

Place: Chamber of Commerce Rooms, Olympia, Wash-
ington.

Purpose of the Meeting. A special meeting of the
Olympia Oyster Growers and Dealers Association to con-
sider the question of Oyster Land titles.

Mark Reed, of Shelton, Washington, who was at that
time a member of the State Legislature, was unanimous-
ly chosen to act as honorary chairman.

The subject for consideration was one of great import-

(45)

The Rise And DecVme Of The Ol})mpia Oyster

ance to the Olympia Oyster growers, and one which had
been a major part of the program of the Association for
some time.

Mention has been made that the majority of titles to
Olympia Oyster land were issued under the "Callow
Act", passed in 1891. This law permitted the applicant to
select and buy the part he desired. Naturally the best
natural oyster ground, and the boundaries were general-
ly irregular. In many instances there were irregular
tracts between the oyster land selected and the beach or
meander-line. There were, also, irregular and isolated
tracts between different growers. As the system of level-
ing and diking had developed, these tracts, the title to
which remained in the State, becam.e very important in
the development of their beds. They needed the beach
gravel for filling, and the land back to the meander line,
which generally follows the line of mean high tide, for
access to their oyster beds. Also, the isolated and irregu-
lar tracts, if owned, could be graded or filled and enable
the adjoining dikes to be straightened out and made
easier to operate. After a long period of effort on the part
of the committee of the Association, the legislature had,
in 1915, passed a law permitting the oystermen to pur-
chase these isolated tracts. The procedure to be followed
out by filing of maps and abstract of title with their ap-
plication, so that the rights of adjoining owners would be
protected, was provided for in the law. This meeting,
through the leadership of Mark Reed, was to aid and
assist the oyster growers in filing their applications to
purchase and buy adjoining isolated tracts. This meeting

(48)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

was followed up by others, and finally all concerned
were taken care of to their satisfaction.

STATE'S SALE OF REVERSIONARY RIGHTS.

As time went on the investment of the Olympia Oyster
Growers in their grading and diking of oyster land be-
came enormous. As I have stated, the deeds to the oyster
land issued under the "Callow Act", both the original
deeds and the deeds to the isolated tracts, had a rever-
sionary provision under which the State could, if certain
conditions existed, reclaim the oyster land. The State
would have to make settlement with the owner, but the
owners felt uneasy at making these investments without
owning the fee simple title. Committees were appointed
to see if legislation might be passed to authorize the State
to deed outright to owners of "Callow Act" titles. This
was finally accomplished and, as shown by the Session
Laws of 1927, page 546, Sec. 140, this was authorized
and the procedure set out. Most of the oystermen per-
fected their titles under this act. Again co-operation won
out through the combined efforts of the oystermen
through their organization, the Olympia Oyster Grow-
ers Association.

(47)

(48)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Marketing — Advertising Program

TO KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWING OF OLYMPIA
Oysters, the opening, packing and sales of the product
had been receiving careful attention. The leaders, men
who had extensive beds, which they had been busy de-
veloping, were first in entering that field. Their first
thought was the opening (sometimes called shucking)
and packing and selling of their own oysters, but as time
went on, it was realized that there were many small
growers who did not produce enough oysters to pay to
have an opening house and that it would be economically
sound to have fewer sales centers. At first the small
growers sold their oysters in the shell, packed in two
bushel burlap sacks, shipping direct to small opening
and wholesale places in surroun.ding cities such as Seat-
tle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
As markets were extended, the local packing plants

(49)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

found their own oysters not sufficient to fill the demands
and began to negotiate with the smaller growers' often
purchasing their entire season's supply. Oysters would
be delivered in the shell packed in the two bushel burlap
bags, and the packing house would either sell and ship
them to the packers in other cities or open them, pack
in pint, quart, half -gallon or gallon cans, and ship to their
customers.

As production increased the supply began to exceed
demand. This resulted in each local packer advertising
its own brand both locally and in more distant places.

But again as tim.e went on the supply began to ex-
ceed the demand. Before I go into the manner in which
this was met, I must speak of the development of the
local packing plants.

LOCAL PACKING PLANTS.

J. J. Brenner and the Olympia Oyster Co. were and al-
ways have been, the leaders in the packing plant and
distribution field. J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. was a corpor-
ation and has always done business under that name.

The first J. J. Brenner plant was erected on piling in
Olympia about the year 1893. At that time, the road on
West Fourth St., consisted of a plank causeway con-
structed on piling, the tide running in and out of the
upper cove, where "Capital Lake" is now located.

This plant was soon inadequate, so Jack began his
plans for a new, larger and better equipped building.
This was constructed on the corner of West Fourth and
Simmons Street. It was a large building, well equipped
for a plant of those days, and would accomodate about

(50)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

thirty openers. It had a roomy office, well furnished; an
ice box sufficient in size to refrigerate all oysters on
hand at any time, either in the shell or opened stock; a
large packing room where shucked stock was washed,
packed and prepared for shipment; and storage room
overhead for storage of box lumber, cans and containers.
This was an up-to-date, and much above the average,
oyster plant for that time.

At the rear of the plant was a shipping dock where
the boats bringing the oysters could land, unload the
oysters, and load any freight that was to be sent back to
the beds.

This plant satisfied the needs of the J. J. Brenner Oys-
ter Co. until about the year 1927. Jack Brenner had been
dreaming about a new and up to the minute packing
plant for years. That dream came true in 1928. His
company owned the adjoining land, so he moved the old
plant over onto it and continued to use it while construct-
ing the new one. By that time the dredging in the Bay
had been done and all the lots adjacent to the channel in-
cluding the Brenner property, had been filled. The new
building was a two story concrete structure, and was
large and modern in every detail, constructed especially
for the sanitary opening, packing, and shipping of oys-
ters.

This plant was used until 1951 when for many reasons
it was decided that the packing plant should be located at
the heart of the oyster production on Oyster Bay. By that
time the transportation condition had entirely changed.
Cement pavements had been constructed almost to the
point where it was decided to build. Trucks had come

(51)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

into use, which made the transportation by water slow
and inadequate. Communication by phone, wire, or mail
was as easy as from town. By opening at the beds the
oysters were delivered in the shell directly to the plant,
opened, and the shell left handy for use on the beds,
leaving only the finished product, the oyster packed
ready for the market, to be delivered by truck to the
point of shipment.

So, the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. met these new condi-
tions by the construction of a fine new modern plant on
the shores of their own beds near the head of Oyster Bay,
where they are carrying on their business, producing and
marketing a fine product, and are a substantial factor in
the oyster business. (See picture).

The Olympia Oyster Co., Inc., from the beginning
was in the front ranks in its packing house program.
They owned substantial oyster beds, were progressive in
the development of Olympia Oysters, and operated their
own boat to transport their oysters to Olympia where
they had constructed an opening house on Fourth Street,
only one block east of the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. plant.
Here, also, in the earlier days the water ran under their
plant, which was constructed on piling. They also had
their private dock for unloading their oysters. The "Old
Timer" Geo. W. Draham w^as president of the corpora-
tion. He also had dreams of having the latest equipment
known to the industry for the sanitary and efficient
opening, washing, and packing of Olympia Oysters.
These dreams were realized when, in 1924, a concrete
building was erected and equipped with the latest and
best known machinery used in an opening plant includ-

(52)

The Rise And DecUne Of The Ol^mpla Oyster

ing refrigerating rooms and a sterilizing plant. This
building is still in use, being occupied by the "Olympia
Oyster House," where their purveying of Olympia Oys-
ters has become as famous as in the days of "Doane's
Oyster House." After the inspection of this plant by the
United States Department of Health, it was pronounced
a model oyster opening and shipping plant. In fact, these
officials told me while I was in Washington D. C. that the
oyster plants here were superior to most of those on the
East Coast, and that the Olympia Oyster Co. plant and
the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. plant were so well equipped
and so clean that they looked more like a laboratory
than an oyster house. (See picture).

In 1925 the United States Bureau of Fisheries recog-
nized this and commented as follows in Document No.
1066, referring to the Olympia Oyster industry in the
Southern part of Puget Sound:

"The shucking houses are built according to specifica-
tions established by the United States Health Service,
and in many respects surpass these requirements. The
rooms where oysters are opened are sunny; the benches,
tables, floors and walls are of cement; in respect to clean-
liness and compliance to the highest standard of sanitary
requirements, the condition of the Olympia shucking
houses is unsurpassed in any other oyster producing
state."

As the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co., due to changed condi-
tions, found it advisable to change the location of its
packing plant to Oyster Bay, so for the same reasons the
Olympia Oyster Co. constructed a plant near the head of

(53)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Oyster Bay, and within a mile of the J. J. Brenner plant.
It is modern in every respect.

You may be asking what it means to say that these
two plants are modern in every respect. The first packing
plants were modern when they had a bench upon which
to pile oysters, carried in by hand from a boat moored
to a dock near the plant. I have quoted from the United
States Bureau of Fisheries bulletin as to the standards of
sanitary requirements in 1925. Today the word modern,
when applied to oyster packing plants, has taken a new
meaning. In addition to the standards of those days, mod-
ernized by better design and equipment, the plant is fully
mechanized.

The oysters are carried from the boat on a moving
belt and dropped onto shucking tables. The shell, instead
of being carried or wheeled to the shell pile are dropped
through the table and carried by a moving belt to the
shell pile. Manual labor has been reduced to a minimum.

These two companies have owned adjacent Olympia
Oyster beds, have operated packing plants close together,
have been operating as neighbors, during the entire life
of the Olympia Oyster industry. Likewise J. J. Brenner
and Geo. W. Draham, have been members of the Olym-
pia Oyster Growers Association, have co-operated with
its members thoughout its existence, have served on
many important committees together, and were close
friends as they shared honors as "Old Timers" at the
Golden Anniversary Dinner given by the Association in
their honor.

In Oakland Bay, near Shelton, Washington, Joe H.
Deer, Thomas O'Neil, A. L. McDonald, Frank C. Chester

(54)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

and others, had substantial oyster beds. These were
all progressive men, were co-operative with the other
growers and were members of and took a substantial
part in the work of the Olympia Oyster Growers Associa-
tion.

It has been stated, by Dr. Trevor Kincaid, a recognized
authority, that in the earlier days Oakland Bay was the
most prolific oyster seed ground in the world. Transport-
ation from there to the packing plants in Olympia was
very difficult. Not long after the commercial value of
Olympia Oysters was discovered J. H. Deer built and
operated an opening and packing plant in Shelton which
met the need of the oyster growers in that locality. Later
D. R. Helser operated an Olympia Oyster opening and
packing plant in Olympia, which he supplied mostly
with oysters from his own beds in Oyster Bay.

EXTENSIVE ADVERTISING PROGRAM USED.

Another critical period in the history of the Olympia
Oyster had been reached, and as always, the old pion-
eers, through the medium of their representative organ-
ization, were about to meet it.

During the year 1921 it became apparent that there
was a surplus of Olympia Oysters. Competition in the
markets was very keen, and in December, a drop in price
was threatening. Investm.ents had been very heavy and
cost of production increased so that a price war would be
disastrous to the industry. Dr. G. W. Ingham, President of
the Association, realized the situation, and this meeting,
held on the evening of Dec. 14, 1921, at the Shelton Hotel,
was called for the purpose of considering it.

(55)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

BANG WENT THE GAVEL!

It was really a wonderful meeting, attended by thirty
growers. It was preceeded by a social meeting in the ho-
tel lobby. An orchestra played as we marched into the
dining room. An oyster banquet was beautifully served;
Olympia Oysters from soup to nuts, and all the trim-
mings.

President Dr. Ingham called the meeting to order
and presented one of our hosts, Joe Deer, to give the
address of welcome. The minutes recite, and I personally
remember, that he welcomed us in his jovial manner. Joe
Deer left us many years ago, and one can only say that
he was indeed a good man, well beloved by his fellow
men.

President Ingham responded to the welcoming ad-
dress and he was at his best. I can see and hear him yet,
as he pleaded for united rather than divided effort, for
co-operative effort through the Association; for faith in
the future and in the Olympia Oyster, the most wonder-
ful food created by the Almighty and cultured by man.
All that was needed was that the public be told of its vir-
tues, and demand would increase beyond our ability to
supply.

His address was an inspiration to us all.

George Draham followed with a strong presentation,
following the subject as it had been presented by Dr.
Ingham, and strongly recommending a proposed adver-
tising campaign. The Secretary, E. N. Steele, who was
Chairman of the Advertising Committee, was called upon.
I can remember that I stressed the importance of united

(56)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

effort, and told of the picture which we have hanging in
our kitchen as a family guide. It is of a bunch of bananas,
and reads "Remember the banana. Every time it leaves
the bunch it gets skinned."

Mark Reed, of the Olympia Oyster Investment Co.
then, in a logical and well presented statement, recom-
mended that no cut in price be made, but that we should
create a demand and the demand would raise the price.
He recommended that as of January 1922 ten per cent of
the gross sales be set aside for that purpose.

The Advertising Committee then presented J. Wil-
liam Sheets and Fitzherbert Leather, of the J. William
Sheets advertising firm of Seattle, who presented an
outline of the type and extent of advertising they pro-
posed.

And so was born the advertising campaign which was
started on January 1, 1922. It was the beginning of one of
the most unique and effective campaigns of its day, cre-
ating comment far and wide. And it was effective. The
price of oysters was soon raised to meet the cost of ad-
vertising, which was one dollar per sack, and the price of
Olympia Oysters never went back to the previous level.
In fact, it drew the attention of the Eastern oyster grow-
ers. In 1924, the Oyster Growers Association of North
America were in about the same trouble we had been in.
Hiving been Chairman of the Olympia Oyster Advertis-
in Committee, and active in its camjaign, I received a let-
ter from Dr. Radcliffe, then an official in The Oysters
Growers Association of North America asking me, at
their expense, to come to New York and meet with their
Directors, and tell them of our abvertising experience.

(57)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

This invitation was accepted. I was met and conducted on
a tour of the oyster areas of the East, went out on dredges
in Chesapeake Bay, in New Jersey, Virginia, and New
York, visited some of the largest packing plants, and
ended by attending the directors meeting in New York.
There an advertising cam^paign was started by initial
subscriptions of approximately fifty thousand dollars.
On that trip I met many of the leading oystermen, and
in Washington D. C , I met men in the Fisheries Depart-
mxent and the U. S. Department of Health, who were very
helpful when later on I was called upon to make other
trips representing our own oyster industry.

The Olympia Oyster advertising program v/as unique
in every respect. It was for the most part limited to the
western states. This was because of the competition with
the Eastern oyster, especially east of the Rocky Moun-
tains, and excessive express rates. In fact, it was limited
to the Pacific Coast States. In those days advertising was
not as expensive as it is today. Now half-hour programs
on T. V. cost more than this small industry, at one dol-
lar per sack, (about ten per cent of gross receipts) could
afford to spend in one year. But the subject matter was of
such interest to the public that it received broad coverage
from a news and general interest standpoint. Such able
writers as Dr. Trevor Kincaid contributed most interest-
ing articles on the history of the Olympia Oysters, its
merits as a food of the finest flavor and food value.
These articles, with illustrative pictures, were published
by such papers as the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Ore-
gon Journal, and in San Francisco and Los Angeles. As
the interest spread, other writers wanted information

(58)

The Rise And Decline Gf The Olympia Oyster

and pictures for publication in other newspapers and
magazines. Our advertising committee was kept busy
furnishing material for these writers.

Soon the food economists began to publicize recipes
and demonstrate them in cooking schools.

Each year the advertising committee laid out very
carefully its advertismg campaign. It estimated the
quantity of oysters that should be marketed the follow-
ing year. It contacted the markets, found out where it
could spend the advertising funds to best advantage
and with the advice of the advertising managers prepar-
ed the material. This was reviewed at a meeting of the
Association. When agreed upon and approved it was put
to a membership vote. Thus, all were satisfied and knew
just how their money was to be spent. The records show
that the assessment of one dollar per sack was regularly
paid for many years.

In some places we used roadside billboards. The ho-
tels and sea-food eating houses were supplied with beau-
tiful banners, and recipe folders were distributed by the
thousands. Newspapers and magazine ads were used
judiciously.

The campaign was started off each year by making
the first week in September "Olympia Oyster Week."
For many years, this was done by a proclamation signed
by the Mayor of Olympia and under the official "Seal of
the City of Olympia." During that time I happened to be
a member of the City Commission of Olympia for ten
years, serving as Mayor about four years. I have before
me some of those proclamations addressed:

(59)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

"To the Citizens of Olympia, and to all
Fellow Citizens, governing Executives
and Officials of the Sovereign States
of our glorious Pacific Coast."

The Proclamation, after extolling the virtues of Olym-
pia Oysters as a food, set aside said week as Olympia
Oyster Week throughout the Northwest for "feasting,
celebration, thanksgiving and good cheer in memory of
the occasion."

"Signed at Olympia, End of the Oregon Trail, Capitol
of the State of Washington."

Signed by the Mayor and City Clerk, and attested by
the City Seal.

These proclamations were beautifully gotten out and
sent to hundreds of City, County, and State Officials,
and to the editors of all papers. They were well received,
and much publicity was given.

This program was carried out for about fifteen years;
by that time the demand became greater than the supply,
so the advertising was tapered off. During these years the
gavel fell many times, as meetings of the Olympia Oyster
Growers Association were called to order to consider
their advertising program.

(60)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'^mpia Oyster

SdE^itation — Sanitary Coi^itrol

BANG WENT THE GAVEL!

IT WAS ON APRIL 20, 1925, ONE OF THE SUBJECTS
for consideration was co-operation with Dr. Simpson,
head of the State Department of Health, in working out a
manual to co-ordinate with the National Department of
Health for Sanitary Control.

Sanitary Control by the State was not a new subject.
It had been under discussion many times before. The
National Public Health Service had been working on it
since about 1908. There had been some typhoid fever
traced to sewage polluted shellfish in the East over the
years. During the fall and winter of 1924-25, outbreaks of
typhoid fever occurred in New- York, Washington, Chi-
cago and several other cities. As a result, the matter of
Sanitary Control became a very live issue. The Surgeon

(61)

The Rise And Decline Of The OZpmpia Oyster

General of the United States Public Health Service call-
ed together a conference of Federal, State, and municipal
authorities, and representatives of the shellfish industry,
to work out a plan of Sanitary Control for oysters.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARD SANITARY CONTROL
BY OLYMPIA OYSTER GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

The Olympia Oyster Growers from the start had been
in favor of some plan of control. When the epidemic in
the East broke out it had repercussions in our Olympia
Oyster industry, even though our Sanitary conditions
here were very good. The law had prevented the sale of
oyster land near any city, and there were but few inhab-
itants along our oyster bed shores. Yet the need for
systematic control was recognized.

At the time of this meeting the Federal Public Service
had prepared a tentative manual and furnished copies to
the Health Department of each state. Each state was
asked to prepare ready for adoption, a manual in which
minmum requirements would be comparable with the
minmum requirements of the Federal manual. At this
Association meeting a committee was appointed to work
with Dr. Simpson in formulating a manual for the State
of Washington.

This com.mittee was appointed consisting of Dr. G. W.
Ingham, Geo, W. Draham, and myself. This work requir-
ed numerous meetings, both in Olympia and in Seattle.
The passage of legislation was also necessary.

Finally the U. S. Health Service developed and adopt-
ed uniform standards, and the Health Department of the

(62)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol\)mpia Oyster

State of Washington, with the co-operation of the oyster
growers, adopted its shellfish-sanitary manual. Since its
inception no disease has been attributed to the consump-
tion of shellfish. It has stood the test of time without
change. On September 9, 1 954, another meeting was held
in Washington D. C, called by the U. S. Public Health
Service, to consider the revision and strengthening of the
Sanitary Control system.. Mr. Dave McMillin of the
Olympia Oyster Co., representing the Olympia Oyster
Growers Association, and Malcolm Edward and myself,
representing the Pacific Oyster interests, were in attend-
ance at that meeting. The final draft, both of the U. S.
Public Health Service Manual and of the State of Wash-
ington Manual are now being drafted, with the aid and
co-operation of the entire oyster industry.

MEANING AND EXTENT OF "SANITARY CONTROL
PROGRAM."

Space prevents detailed information on this subject.
The fundamental requirements are as follows:

1. It commences at the grass roots, so to speak. The
purity of the water in which the oysters are grown. The
State, upon application of a grower, takes samples of the
water over the applicant's grounds. If found to be pure,
fit for the taking of shellfish for marketing, he is granted
a State Certificate. This certificate must be renewed an-
nually.

At the same time it is issued the U. S. Public Health
Service is notified; this certificate holder is given a num-
ber, which must appear on each container in which
oysters from the certified beds are packed. This identifies

(63)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

them even when shipped interstate. Thus, if the oysters
are picked up by officials, for inspection to determine
whether they have been packed in accordance with re-
quirements, their source may be easily traced.

2. The culling houses and opening houses are also in-
spected. They must meet sanitary requirements and
specifications, and be kept clean.

3. The opening and washing equipment must be of
non-corroding material, such as stainless steel, and be
sterilized daily.

4. In the washing and packing of oysters clean sani-
tary methods must be used.

5. The health of those working with oysters must be
determined to guard against the employment of any
worker who might be a typhoid carrier.

6. Requirements for adequate and suitable toilet fac-
ilities are made.

7. The State Department of Health is responsible for
the inforcement of the manual, and its officials make
frequent checking visits to the shucking plants. They
also make tests of the water over the oyster beds to as-
sure its purity.

In fact, the growing, opening, packing and shipping of
oysters must be done in a sanitary manner, with sanitary
equipment, the entire operation being specifically de-
scribed in the manual.

(64)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Mcitsoncsl Recovery Adminisf rcs^bn as Applied
To fhe OSympia Oyster Bndystry

ANOTHER MOMENTOUS PROBLEM WAS CON-
fronting the Olympia Oyster Industry. In fact, it was
confronting the entire country. Many men and women
who had been our potential customers were now in the
bread line. The savings of many thousands of our more
prosperous people were tied up in the banks and build-
ing and loan associations, whose doors were closed.
Stocks and bonds had greatly depreciated in value. It
was a time when the necessities of life were the rule, and
luxuries or higher priced foods were out for the masses
of our people.

On the other hand, Olympia Oyster growers and
packers had been for years carrying on a program of de-

(65)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

velopment far beyond their earnings, and many of them,
including myself, had been borrowing heavily to con-
tinue their improvement vsrork. Each individual had his
problems. He could eat his own oysters, but he could not
eat them all. He must sell some of them to survive. But
without customers — what? Everyone was desperate to
find a way out.

The Federal Government was desperately trying to
find ways and means to recovery. Congress had passed
what was called the National Recovery Act. This provid-
ed for a National Recovery Administration, whose
purpose it was, among other things, to set up reasonable
prices for all commodities, industry wide, and adopt rules
of fair competition. It was a gigantic effort to give every
producer a fair opportunity to keep his product in the
market on an equal basis with his competitor. The set up
was that each industry should have its own Code, pre-
pared with the aid of the Administrator and adopted,
first by the industry then approved by the President.

CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION FOR THE OYSTER
INDUSTRY.

On June 16, 1933, the "National Industrial Recovery
Act" had been approved by President Franklin D. Roose-
velt.

BANG WENT THE GAVEL!
Date, August 24, 1933

This meeting of the Trustees of the Olympia Oyster
Growers Association, was held on August 24, 1933. Presi-
dent G. W. Ingham, J. J. Brenner, E. G. Brenner, O. C.

(66)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Hanson, Mr. Van Epps, and E. N. Steele were present.
The minutes of that meeting disclose that the preliminary
draft of the National Oyster Code was read aloud and dis-
cussed. Also, a letter was read from Howard Beach,
President of the Oyster Growers and Dealers Association
of North America, and one from Dr. Radcliffe, executive
secretary of said Association, suggesting that the Pacific
Coast Division of the Oyster Industry send a representa-
tive to the National Oyster Convention to be held in New
York City, at which time it was proposed to adopt a Na-
tional Code for the Oyster Industry,

In the discussion it developed that it would be
advisable to have our industry represented at that meet-
ing to advise them of our problems on the West Coast,
that the code adopted be made to harmonize with our
needs. It was announced by E. N. Steele, who was at that
time President of the Pacific Coast Oyster Growers As-
sociation, that said Association felt the same way about
it, and he thought it would pay half of the cost. It was
moved by J. J. Brenner and unanimously passed that E.
N. Steele be selected as a delegate to said convention;
that $400 be provided to pay his expenses, one-half there-
of to be refunded by the Pacific Coast Oyster Growers
Association. Further that a telegram be sent at once to
the President of the United States that "the Olympia
Oyster Growers Association was behind the N. R. A.
movement 100%, and would co-operate through the Na-
tional organization."

(67)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

PREPARATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE

CODE.

Thus, the Olympia Oyster Growers Association and
its members became participants in the great movement
of a great people of a great nation to survive and to bring
back prosperity in this country.

To give the details of the preparation and adoption of
the Code and of its administration would be a long story,
so I shall only record the high lights.

I shall never forget my trip to this convention. A few
days before I started, the N. R. A. Eagle had been adopt-
ed symbolizing the movement. It had been received with
great enthusiasm by the people. The press was full of it.
Banners showing the Eagle were displayed everywhere
along the way. Window displays of the Eagle and an-
nouncing the adoption of the N. R. A. by the store or
factory were seen in every window. The country was
alive with enthusiasm, and hope. This cross section of the
country inspired me, and gave me material to inspire
the convention when I was called upon to address it at
its opening meeting. But, after that meeting it was ser-
ious business.

The organizing into industry groups, then subdivid-
ing into Division groups, was accomplished and finally I
found myself where I belonged. For one week I was in
that great hotel, which was the headquarters of the con-
vention. I ate there, I slept there whenever I had an
opportunity. Long hours were devoted to the work. I did
not leave the hotel for one week more than for a quick
walk around the block. First, in co-operation with the

(68)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

oyster growers of the East Coast, those things which ap-
plied to the entire industry were settled and adopted.
Then the specific provision which applied to the Olympia
Oyster and the Pacific Oyster, consolidated under the
Pacific Coast division of the Oyster Code, were worked
out.

Finally, it was ready for drafting. I returned home
and made my report. After receiving the first draft, it
was reviewed and finally adopted. I became its adminis-
trator. The latter part of September, 1933, the following
was received from Washington, D. C:

"Official recognition of E. N. Steele of Olympia, as a
duly elected member of the code authority for the fresh
oyster industry has been announced by the National Re-
covery Administration. Steele was approved as a member
for the Pacific Coast section of the oyster industry, which
under NRA regulations, is a division of the fisheries in-
dustry. Approval of members of the code authority for
the North Atlantic, and southern section, also was an-
nounced."

This now sounds like a small matter in the history of
this industry. But it is not. We lived it for many years. It
was a daily concern in our lives. All business transactions
were governed by it. Some liked it. Others did not. But,
taking it as a whole, by the time it was ended by court
proceedings we were again on the way to prosperity.
Who can say but that the stabilization of prices and the
rules of fair competition during this period was of much
value to our own industry as well as to the whole coun-
try. At least, we participated in it, and it is a part of our
history.

(69)

(70)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

Enemies of the Olympio Oyster

I DO NOT APPROACH THIS SUBJECT FROM THE
viewpoint of a biologist, but that of an observer.

Star fish are fond of any oyster, but the Olympia Oys-
ter is its favorite.

Man must have some kind of a knife with a blade to
open and take the meat from an oyster. Not so with a star
fish. Nature has provided it with a more direct method.
It first wraps itself around the oyster, or if it is feeding
on Olympia Oysters several of them at one time. It has
thousands of very small but tough and strong tentacles.
These have suction cups on the ends. These, after they
are attached to the oyster, begin to pull in such a manner
as to be a strain on the abductor muscle of the oyster. It
resists and holds its own in this tug of war for a time,
then gradually weakens, and the shell begins to open.

(71)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol})mpia Oyster

The stomach of the star fish, if its victim is a large oyster,
protrudes into the shell and entirely envelopes the oys-
ter, devours it, then draws in its stomach and moves on to
its next victim. Olympia Oysters being very small, are
more easily worked upon, and they are devoured rapidly.

Some years starfish are very numerous in the oyster
area. One summer I saw an army of them. Many thou-
sands, as they attacked a bed of Olympia seed oysters on
the State Oyster Reserves in North Bay. As they devour-
ed their oysters, with the aid of the then incoming tide,
they would move on a few feet, settle down and enjoy
their next victim. These reserves were not patrolled, so
needless to say the State had no seed to sell that year
from those reserves.

Starfish have no power of locomotion when the tide is
out. So they must move from one hunting ground to an-
other and do their feeding when the tide is in. For that
reason they are easy prey for the oyster growers. He can
easily see them and destroy them. I remember an exper-
ience once when I learned how not to destroy them. I
pulled them apart, tearing the fingers of their star from
each other, and threw them on the ground. Later I passed
that way and found that each of those fingers had lived,
and that new fingers v/ere forming on each one of the
pieces, where the wound had healed. I later was told that
each finger had its own heart and circulatory system.

The oyster growers watched for and destroyed the
starfish. Many were used for fertilizer. So, as the years
have passed they have become fewer until there are not
many seen in Oyster Bay.

(72)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

DUCKS

Some kinds of ducks are also fond of oysters, and the
Olympia Oyster, due to its small size, causes it to
say "You are my oyster." Although I have seen them
swallow full grown oysters, yet they prefer the smaller
seed oyster, or better yet, the single oysters that have
been put back on the beds after the larger ones have
been culled out for market, and the smaller ones, mostly
single oysters, put back to grow. I have seen large flocks
of these ducks, often watching from a distance the spread-
ing of these culls, fly to the spot where the oysters had
been re-planted. By the time the oyster grower had ar-
rived at his culling house with the scow or float from
which the culls had been spread, the ducks would have
arrived at their new feeding ground and disappeared in
the water. They would come up with an oyster in their
bills, swallow it with a gulp, then dive down again for
another.

The losses to the oyster growers becam.e very heavy,
and a problem. These predators were mostly "Scooters" a
duck commonly known as a "coot". They were not gen-
erally used as food, as the flesh had a strong fishy taste.
But the "Blue Bill" which was classified as an edible
duck, or a game bird, also was fond of oysters. Hence, the
game authorities prevented the shooting of any ducks,
even in protection of our own property.

Finally, the oyster growers of Olympia Bay came to
an agreement with the Game Warden that if the oyster-
men would employ a patrolman who would only shoot to
scare the ducks away from the oyster beds he would co-

(73)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

operate. So on May 25,1914, the Oyster Bay Growers had
a meeting and decided to form a new Association to be
known as the "Oyster Bay Growers Association." Their
principle objects was to establish a patrol to protect
their oysters from theft or other predators, meaning
ducks.

On July 28, 1914, they adopted a Constitution and By-
Laws, which were signed by the following charter mem-
bers: E. B. Taylor, Mgr. of S. K. Taylor & Son; J. J.
Brenner Oyster Co., by J. J. Brenner; E. N. Steele; Olym-
pia Oyster Co., by G. W. Draham, Pres.; Olympia Oyster
Investment Co., by G. W. Ingham, Pres.; D. R. Helser;
J"ohn H. Blass; J. B. Bowman.

This organization employed the ex-deputy sheriff of
Thurston County William Vance, as its patrolman. It was
maintained until 1925, a period of eleven years; the ex-
pense being borne by self assessment of its members.

At one time the Federal Game Warden, who was
questioning the legality of shooting ducks out of season,
asked that the gizzards ol the ducks be sent to Washing-
ton, to see if they were eating oysters. Over one thousand
were sent, each with information as to the date and time
of day, stage of the tide and where killed. These gizzards
showed a content of from one to twenty-seven oysters in
each one, depending largely on when and where shot.
The quantity of oysters per year eaten by ducks was esti-
mated to run over one thousand sacks. Following this
experiment, a permit was granted to carry on the patrol.

But upon change of administration the Federal Game
Protector challenged it again. He made a trip out here,
and the conditions were explained as we took him over

(74)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

the beds. His contention was that a gas automatic explo-
sion, blasting every fifteen minutes, attached to piling
over the oyster beds, would keep the ducks away. A De-
partment regulation to that effect was issued. It was
tried out. For the first few days the ducks flew away.
When they found it was harmless they became more bold,
and in a month they paid no attention to it. So the patrol-
man began shooting again. He was arrested, but never
tried.

Since then, ducks have diminished in number, but are
still considered as predators.

CRAWFISH

Crawfish do not eat oysters. Their damage to oysters
is indirect. They live in the ground, and are found in the
tide flats where the bottom is sandy. They dig in and by
5^ome mechanism, apparently the motion of the fins on
the side of the body and the tail, they push the sand
back as they advance. This accumulates in a little pile
where the crawfish entered the ground. The tunnel, about
one inch in diameter, extends sometimes ten or twelve
feet. The crawfish lines the tunnel, as it digs, with some
hard substance.

Crawfish are harmful to oysters in two ways. First,
after a dike has been constructed, a crawfish may go
down and under the dike. The ground outside the dike
being lower, the crawfish, probably to its own surprise,
comes to ground surface on the lower side of the dike.
The upper dike being filled with water, it begins to flow
through the crawfish tunnel. At first it looks like a bub-
bling spring, but soon the force of the water breaks

(75)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

down the walls of the tunnel. The flow becomes larger
and larger. It makes a noise like a cascade. The water
from the upper dikes carries with it a great quantity of
soil from the upper dike,, as well as the oysters, and de-
posits the entire mess on the oysters in the next dike
below.

Such an experience, and there were many of them,
required major repairs, causing expenses and hard labor.

Second, in some more level areas, crawfish are very
numerous. Humphrey Nelson, who has a considerable
amount of this kind of ground, says there may be as
many as twenty crawfish per square foot. In that case,
the quantity of sand thrown up, a little pile by each craw-
fish, becomes a large quantity in the aggregate. The tides
flatten out these piles, and gradually the oysters become
covered.

The loss became so heavy to many growers that they
became discouraged and abandoned their ground.
Not so with Humphrey Nelson and his step-father, U. G.
Young. They solved it by covering the ground with lum-
ber or plywood, then covering that with three or four
inches of gravel. This prevented the sand from coming
up; their yield of oysters increased by fifty per cent.

DRILLS

The so called drill is a species of the snail family. The
native snail is about one and a half inches long when ma-
ture. I have never seen one drilling an oyster, although
I have heard it said that they do drill seed oysters. But,
a real drill, one that has the equipment and the ability
to drill a nice little round hole in the shell of an oyster

(76)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympla Oyster

and the desire to do so, has been brought into this coun-
try with seed of the Japanese oyster, now commonly
known as the Pacific Oyster. It is about the same size as
the native snail.

This species of drill abound in Japan. It has some pow-
er of locomotion when aided by the tide. I have often seen
them protrude a sort of foot and give themselves a shove
as the tide was moving, then roll forward with the tide
for several feet.

It also has limited power of locomotion by using its
body in the place of legs. By an outward thrust of the
body it pushes itself forward about one-half inch, then
it repeats the operation. Its walking distance is limited
to a few feet a day, and it cannot walk in mud. But it can
move from oyster to oyster, and it does not need to hur-
ry. It takes great care in selecting its next victim. It has
an instinct which guides it to an oyster with a thin shell.
When it has found its oyster, it then selects the spot
where the shell is the thinnest. The thinner the shell the
easier to penetrate it.

Due to the drilling equipment, this animal has some-
times been called a "marine dentist". Hov/ever, before
it starts working on its victim I have never heard it whis-
per in a sympathizing voice, ''Now this is going to hurt a
little."

The file-like drill is located at the end of a tiny neck
which protrudes from the body of the drill. After the
drill has bored the hole through the shell, the neck is
pushed into the oyster and by use of a suction method the
oyster meat is conveyed into the drill as food. If the neck
is not long enough to reach all the oyster meat, it with-

(77)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

draws and leaves the oyster to die. As soon as it dies, its
shell begins to open and crabs finish the job.

The Olympia Oyster Growers met this new enemy
with their customary fortitude. They employed drill
pickers, and in other ways kept them down to where
they could get along and live with them, and still pro-
duce oysters on a commercial basis.

SLIPPER SHELLS OR CUPS (CREPIDULA)

The slipper shell may be termed as an enemy of the
Olympia Oyster, although it does not kill the oyster. At
one time Eastern Oysters were brought in from the At-
lantic Coast. The slipper shell came with them and
thrived here.

It has a shell that when grown, is about two inches
across, and holds to shell or rock to which it had become
attached by a suction cup. Its body is held into the shell
by a sort of foot which hooks under a partition in the
shell, just as the foot fits into a slipper. Hence, the name
— slipper shell.

The shell is of such quality that the spawn of other
animals do not attach to it. But one slipper shell will set
on top of another, until there is a half -moon of them,
from five to ten inches in length.

These animals may eat the same food as oysters. In
some beds at times may take up as much room as the oys-
ters. When the oysters were taken up to cull for market,
the slipper shells were culled out, but caused extra ex-
pense for culling and disposing of them.

(78)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

TRADE WASTE

All of these enemies of the oyster have been met by
the oyster growers, and kept within bounds, by persist-
ence and hard work. But during these years the
population of the west has been increasing, and with it
industries have been creeping in, building their process-
ing plants upon our shores, and using our waters as a
sewer in which to dump their waste. Many of them are
making use of the tim.ber resources which surround our
waters. In the beginning our waters were clean and pure.
The East Coast and its industrial centers had their trade
waste, but in the beginning the growers had no thought
of those conditions ever existing here. The shores of our
inland waters were sparsley settled. Those with vi-
sion of the future could not have foreseen the present
conditions. Industrie? with trade waste have slowly but
steadily closed in upon us. They now threaten to do that
which should never be permitted in a country such as
ours: Cause the destruction of our God given natural re-
sources, our oysters, clams, sea foods, and all eatible
marine life. This subject is of such grave importance that
it will be covered in a separate chapter. (See Appendix A)
It will also be referred to in the chapter covering the de-
cline of the Olympia Oyster industry. May we hope that
the decline may not mean the death. We hope for proper
control of trade waste which would mean that co-exis-
tence may result; the survival of both natural resources
and industry.

(79)

(80)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol}fmpia Oyster

State Oyster Reserves

THE EARLY LEGISLATURES, AFTER THE STATE
of Washington attained statehood, were made up of pio-
neers. They must have appreciated very much our natur-
al resources, and especially the native oyster. It is always
easy to view and appraise the wisdom of legislation from
the standpoint of history from results of said legislation.
In the case of oyster legislation by our pioneer legisla-
tures it is difficult now to see how it could have been im-
proved. We owe a debt of gratitude for the wisdom, fair-
ness and practical manner in which it was treated and
covered by legislation meeting the needs of that day, and
the years to come.

First, they passed the Callow Act, which has been
previously referred to. This basic law gave those who
had, prior to March 26, 1890, occupied oyster land and

(81)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol\^mpia Oyster

cultivated, and continued to cultivate oysters thereon,
the right to purchase, at a low price and on easy terms,
the oyster land they were cultivating, limited to forty
acres. Then the Bu?h Act was passed, not requiring pre-
vious occupancy. This was followed by a law setting aside
and reserving from sale, certain tideland that had not
been purchased. These areas were and still are known as
"State Oyster Land Reserves."

Laws were then passed creating a State Oyster fund,
into which went any moneys received from the sale of
oysters and oyster seed, and legislative appropriations
for the use of the State Fisheries Department in the de-
velopment of the State Oyster Reserves were made from
those funds.

Realizing the importance of the oyster growers being
able to secure seed the State Fisheries Department en-
tered into the era of the development of the Olympia
Oyster industry by using the system of diking and grad-
ing certain parts of said reserves which were known to
be located v/here a natural set of seed was abundant.

This was fortunate, for it was soon learned that this
species of oysters would only grow in certain limited
areas, which I have mentioned; also that seed could not
be moved successfully except between certain areas
where the water was the same in salinity and mineral
content. Some oystermen had good ground for growing
and fattening their oysters, but no seed ground. Hence,
it was necessary to get seed at a reasonable price to con-
tinue their development. This was done while L. H.
Darwin was Fish Commissioner between 1921 and 1931.

The State first developed by diking and grading the

(82)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Oyster Reserve in Oakland Bay. This proved to be the
best seed ground of any they have ever developed. The
seed could be moved successfully from these Reserves to
any oyster ground in Oyster Bay, Mud Bay, Little Skook-
man Bay or South Bay.

The seed set in the Oakland Bay Reserve dike was
tremendous. I have heard Dr. Kincaid say that he thought
it was the heaviest setting ground, and the most reliable
set, of any place in the world. He has visited about every
oyster producing country and is fully informed on their
oyster production. I, myself, have examined these beds
year after year in the early days, and found the dikes
filled with seed. Each spring the State would sell thous-
ands of bushels of seed to oyster growers. Then they
would again cultch the beds with shell, and in two years
it would produce another large crop of beautiful seed.
This continued until the pulp industry came to Shelton.
The said beds are nov/ entirely non-productive.

Other reserves were improved at Clifton, Mason
County, but were less valuable. The set was not as heavy,
and the water conditions different than in southern Pu-
get Sound. After many unsuccessful attempts to move
the seed, it was abandoned for Olympia Oysters, and la-
ter leased for Pacific Oyster culture.

In some places, especially in the Hood Canal district
on Puget Sound, the State Fisheries Department main-
tains reserves for the use of the public, and permits a
limited take of oysters per person for their use.

(83)

(84)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Steste Oyster Laboratories

THE EARLY PIONEERS IN THE OLYMPIA OYSTER
industry had to learn the hard way the secrets concern-
in,^ the propagation and culture of their product. They
had to learn by observation, and by trial and error. They
had no oyster biologist or oyster laboratories for many
years. But, although they learned from observation
when and where the o^^ster larvae set, and what areas
produced the best marketable oysters, yet they had a
keen interest in the scientific and biological problems.

About the year 1P30 the oyster growers succeeded in
arousing the interest of the State Department of Fisher-
ies and Game; Charles R. Maybury, Director, and Charles
R. Pollock, Supervisor of Fisheries. A plan was worked
out under which the^'- secured the loan from the staff of
the United States Bureau of Fisheries of A. E. Hopkins,

(85)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

an eminent aquatic, Biologist. Through co-operation of
the oyster growers a laboratory was fitted up in the cove
in Oyster Bay adjoining the oyster beds of Harley Post.
An assistant to Dr. Hopkins w^as furnished, Mr. H. H.
Adams.

This laboratory was conducted from the spring of
1931, continuing through 1935. Its primary purpose was
to m.ake an analysis of spawning activities and setting
habits of larvae with reference to environmental condi-
tions. Bj^ developing such information it was hoped that
oyster growers might be assisted in the catching of suf-
ficient seed oysters to restore and expand the industry.

This laborator}^ was close to the beds of this writer.
Those years of patient and very scientific study were of
the deepest interest to every Olympia Oyster grower, and
of great value to the industry. The oyster growers co-
operated in the work, furnished boats, assisted in taking
samples, and in any other way they could. The Olympia
Oyster Growers Association had many meetings with
Dr. Hopkins, and each one was made to feel that he was
a part of the operation. When it was completed and Dr.
Hopkins was sent to other fields of investigation, each
oyster grower felt a deep sense of appreciation for his
fine accomplishment.

Dr. Hopkins, at the termination of his work, made an
exhaustive report of his studies, which was published by
the U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Fisheries,
under the title "Experimental Observations on Spawn-
ing, Larval Development and Setting in the Olympia
Oyster, Ostrea lurida," by A. E. Hopkins, Bulletin No. 23.

In a foot note, after expressing his thanks to the state

(86)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

officials for their co-operation and assistance, he made
the following comment: "It is a pleasure to express my
thanks to the growers of Olympia Oysters, all of whom
have willingly given every possible assistance. I am part-
icularly indebted to J. J. Brenner, E. G. Brenner and D. I.
Ginder, of the J. J. Brenner Oyster Co.; Ole Hansen and
J. S. Waldrip, of the Olympia Oyster Co.; G. W. Ingham,
Olympia Oyster Investment Co.; E. N. Steele; Charles
Brenner; W. J. Waldrip; J. B. Bowman; J. H. Post; and
the late Minnie Blass.

"A large part of the credit for this work is due to H. H.
Adams, who served during 5 years as a most capable and
efficient field assistant."

This work was so efficiently and completely done that
from that time on it has been accepted and followed as
the last word on the subject covered.

Dr. Hopkins recently passed away, after many years
of scientific service in other oyster growing areas on the
East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Recent m.ention of
Dr. Hopkins and a forceful commemoration to his ability
was published. The statement was made by another
eminent biologist, one who is well qualified to appraise
the work of another scientist working in the sam.e field.
It was made by Thurlow C. Nelson, Ph., D., D. Sc, Bio-
logist, N. J. Division of Shell Fisheries, reporting pro-
ceedings of the Oyster Growers and Dealers and National
Shellfisheries Convention held in Miami Beach, Florida,
in August, 1956. Speaking of progress in oyster culture
in Florida since establishment of the Division of Oyster
Culture in 1947, 1 quote:

"Legislation to effect this was drafted with the aid of

(87)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

the late Dr. A. E. Hopkins, an outstanding service to the
southern oyster industry which climaxed the contribu-
tions of one of the world's foremost oyster scientists."

Space will not permit a review in detail of this report.
It is fully supplemented and illustrated by pictures and
graphs. Anyone interested in the detail of the work, can
secure a copy from the Superintendent of Documents
Washington, D. C. But I feel that it has such basic value
and interest to those who may read this article that I
should copy from it the following findings:

1. Grounds on which Olympia Oysters are grown are
surrounded by dikes to retain a few inches of water
over the oysters at low tide. The maximum range of tide
at this place is about 20 feet, the average about 14 feet,
and most grounds are located between the minus 2 foot
and plus 4 foot tide levels.

2. Average water temperature varies between a win-
ter low of 6 to 9 degrees C. and a summer high of 18 to
20 degrees C. In summer the temperature is highest when
the tide is low, and the shallow water often reaches 30
degrees C. while during winter low tides occur at night
and a temperature as low as about -2 degrees C. has been
recorded.

3. Salinity of the water on the oyster beds at high tide
varies, in Oyster Bay, between about 26 p.p.m. in winter
and about 29 p.p.m. in summer; in Mud Bay the range is
about 27 to 29.5 p.p.m. Salinity of the surface water, how-
ever, is subject to greater variation.

4. Hydrogen-ion concentration varies throughout the
year from a pH of 7.7 to 7.8 in midwinter to about 8.4 in
late spring. It is probable that prolific growth of algae in

(88)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol\)mpia Oyster

spring, in the presence of fertilizing substances brought
in by the winter rains, account for the high pH at this
time.

5. Market-size oysters bear broods of 250,000 to 300,-
000 larvae. The number of larvae per brood depends
generally upon the size of the maternal oyster.

6. Generally each oyster produces one brood per sea-
son, but in some years as many as 50 percent bear second
broods while in other seasons as few as 75 percent of
the individuals spawn as females. Abortions of embryos
frequently occur, however.

7. Spawning of functional females begins in the spring
when the minimum, or high tide, temperature reaches
12.5 degrees to 13 degrees C.

8. Most broods of larvae are produced during a period
of about 6 weeks at the beginning of the spawning sea-
son, though an occasional gravid individual may be
found as late as October.

9. An average period of 10 days is required for de-
velopment within the branchial chamber from the time
the eggs (diameter, lOOu to 105u) are extruded from the
gonad until straight-hinge veliger larvae (length of
valves, 180u) are discharged.

10. As compared with oviparous species, development
of the larvae of O. lurida is very slow, and the age of the
various stages may be stated approximately as follows: 1
day, blastulae; 2 days, gastrulae; 3 days, trochophores; 4
days, straight-hinge veliger larvae completely enclosed
by valves 110u-120u long; 10 days, veliger larvae with
valves 180u-185u long.

'C3*

(89)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

11. The free-swimming period is 30 or more days in
length and varies from year to year, probably according
to water temperature.

12. Larvae set most frequently on an horizontal sur-
face, while fewest catch on upper horizontal surfaces. A
definite relationship exists between angle of surface
and number of spat caught.

13. This setting beha^^ior of larvae is not due to a di-
rective influence of light but to the swimming position
whereby the larval foot projects upward.

14. A special type of manufactured spat collector, de-
signed to take advantage of these habits, is now in use
commercially.

15. In Oyster Bay the setting season consists of two
distinct periods, 6 to 8 weeks apart. Secondary periods of
setting may occur between these two or after the second.

16. Setting seasons in Oakland Bay and Skookum Inlet
are similar to those in Oyster Bay. In Mud Bay seasons
are shorter and maxima occur at different times.

17. Times of maximum frequency of setting fall with-
in periods of spring tides when tidal range is greatest.

18. On cultch suspended from floats most spat are
caught at a distance of 1 to 2 feet from the surface. This
appears to be one reason why high grounds catch the
most seeds. Floats filled with cultch are now being em-
ployed commercially to take advantage of these results.

19. Few spat are caught at low tide, most when the
tide is about half high. Frequency of setting appears to be
associated with swiftness of current.

20. Setting of larvae begins in the third tidal period
following that during which spawning starts. Setting

(90)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

later in the season appears to depend upon larvae remain-
ing in the water from earlier spawning as well as upon
larvae resulting from late spawning."

After Dr. Hopkins finished his work the laboratory-
work was carried on by the State of Washington, Fisher-
ies Department. One of these laboratories was located at
Burley Lagoon, Gig Harbor, Washington. A new and well
equipped laboratory was recently constructed and is now
in use, located near Quilcene on Hood Canal.

The State has also maintained a laboratory during a
part of each year at Nahcotta, Willapa Bay, to serve the
Pacific Oyster growers of that area in their biological
problems.

(91)

(92)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'})mpia Oyster

Effect of leitrodsiacfiosi of Pacific Oysters On
Olympia Oyster Industry

THE HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER (Ostrea
gigas) to this date is another story. Yet, in completing
this story of the Olympia Oyster it is necessary to explain
briefly its relationship and effect upon the Olympia
Oyster industry.

During the early years, prior to 1921, the Eastern
Oyster (Ostrea virginica) had been shipped into the west,
both in the shell for transplanting purposes, and as fresh
opened oysters. The transplants were not a commercial
success either in V/illapa Bay or in Puget Sound. The
waters on our coast are so different from those on the
Atlantic Coast, that there was great mortality, and the
oysters that lived did not grow or fatten satisfactorily.

(93)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol'^mpia Oyster

As to the opened fresh oysters, while many people
coming from the east preferred them, yet transportation
in those days was slow and refrigeration methods poor.
About the only Eastern oyster coming into the Puget
Sound country came during the Christmas period, when
a group of wholesalers would join in the shipment of one
or more refrigerated car loads. But as the Olympia Oys-
ter became more popular, and production increased to
where demands could be supplied, heavy losses were sus-
tained by spoilage of part of the car load shipments
before they were disposed of. Therefore, the need was
felt for another type of large oyster that was more hardy
than the Olympia Oyster, that did not require the high
state of cultivation necessary to grow the Olympia Oys-
ter, and that could be grown on our own tide flats where
the native or Olympia Oyster were in abundance.

Briefly, after som.e experimental test plantings, it was
found that seed from Japan of species Ostrea gigas,
could be successfully grown here. The first commercial
plantings were made in Samish Bay in 1921. At first,
these oysters were accepted very slowly on the markets.
There were none planted in the Olympia Oyster areas for
many years. The Olympia Oyster remained the favorite,
even though the price was much higher. Finally a few
test plantings were made and in 1936, these oysters had
grown to maturity and spawned. A set of seed took place,
mostly along the upper side of the diked areas. Any that
had caught among the Olympia oysters were culled out,
and those above the dikes were disposed of. There has
been no set since that time in southern Puget Sound,
either on or near the Olympia oyster beds.

(94)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

As heretofore pointed out, the Olympia oyster has a
very delicate organism, and is susceptible to environ-
mental changes. Recently, as the trade wastes have re-
duced the Olympia Oyster population of the beds, por-
tions of them have been planted with more hardy Pacific
oysters hoping that they may survive and enable the oys-
ter grower to continue to operate. If the Olympia Oyster
should become extinct, the Pacific oyster will cover the
areas which have been so carefully, laboriously, and at
such a great expense, built up by its pioneers, especially
adapted for the Olympia Oyster. These developments, so
important to the culture of the Olympia Oyster, the grad-
ing and diking, are of little value to the culture of the
Pacific oysters, as they seem to thrive exposed to the
elements.

So I would conclude that the Pacific oyster has had
no detrimental effect on the Olympia Oyster, but does
stand by as a substitute in case the decline of the Olympia
Oyster should continue into its extinction.

(95)

The Rise And Decline Of The Oly^mpia Oyster

Decline of the OEympia Oyster Industry

I APPROACH THIS SUBJECT WITH THE SAME
realistic attitude that I approach old age. It has come
about so slowly, yet so surely. I am sure my old time
friends and colleagues join me in this; the years have
been filled with work but that work has meant satisfac-
tion and happiness. The development of the Olympia
Oyster as related herein constituted many challenges
during the younger years of our lives. We were in those
years always able to let out another link, so to speak, take
on the extra work it involved, and through co-operative
effort, meet the challenge. But as we have increased in
years, the subject of our life's work has declined. The
reason for this decline may be as futile to relate as the
reason for old age. Yet, this historic story of an industry,
a natural heritage given to the people by God for their
good and pleasure, would not be complete without it.
It was entrusted into the hands of those I have written

(96)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

about, to develop, protect, and hand down through post-
erity to future generations. In reporting our management
of that trust, and that the decline has not been the fault
of said trustees, I shall set out the facts.

I have already stated that from time to time pests,
enemies of the Olympia Oyster, have appeared and how
these pests have been treated as a challenge, the same as
pests of upland crops. They have been kept down or de-
stroyed. The star fish, the cup or slipper shell, the drill,
caused a lot of work, but were overcome to an extent
that they did not materially reduce the size of the crops.

The oyster growers feel that the decline has been
caused by pulp mill waste from the mill at Shelton. To
substantiate this belief a separate article has been pre-
pared, citing authorities by biologists standing high in
their profession and appearing in Public Documents,
which co-ordinate with the opinion of the oystermen
acquired by experience and observation. It will be found
at the conclusion of this thesis. Appendix A.

As to the decline of the Olympia Oyster industry, I
refer to a bulletin No. 49-A, published by the State of
Washington in April, 1949. It was prepared by Donald L.
McKernan, Vance Tartar, and Roger Tollefson, State
Oyster Laboratory, Gig Harbor, Washington, and is en-
titled "An investigation of the decline of the Native
Oyster industry of the State of Washington, with special
reference to the effect of Sulfite Pulp Mill waste on the
Olympia Oyster (Ostrea lurida).

In his introductory remarks the author expresses in-
debtness to Drs. W. M. Chapman and A. H. Banner, as
well as to Messrs. John Glud and Lief Wahl for making

(97)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

available their unpublished manuscripts; also to W. J.
Waldrip for important data; to Professor Trevor Kincaid
and others.

Under title "Recent Decline of the Native Oyster Fish-
ery" they give data showing the production of Olympia
Oysters from 1910 to 1946 inc. This data was secured
from actual production records of the growers and ship-
pers, and confirmed by the statistics of the fisheries.
This data I have also confirmed by the use of the records
in my possession, during the many years when the Olym-
pia Oyster Growers were advertising and paying
assessments on a bushel or sack basis by its members. I
believe them to be substantially correct.

In 1910, the production was about 24,000 bushel. In
1915, it had increased to 36,000 bushel. In 1916-17, there
was a very heavy freeze. The beds were then only partly
under dikes, and the loss was heavy. Production
went down in 1917 to about 18,000 bushel. From then on
to 1924, there was a steady increase to approximately
50,000 bushel. It remained rather constant until 1926.
From 1926 to 1932 it declined to 19,000 bushel, only 43%
of the peak in 1924. From 1932 to 1936, it had climbed up
again to about 25,000 bushel. From that time to the end of
1946 there was a decline to the 1910 level of 16,000 bushel.

The story from that time on, I have secured from the
records of the principal growers, as well as my own per-
sonal contact with the industry. It remained fairly
steady, on an average, although there were ups and
downs of a few hundred bushel, until 1948 when there
was a decided downward trend. By 1952, it had de-
creased to about 7,500 bushel, and during 1955, to about
3,500 bushel.

(98)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

Although the demand for Olympia Oysters has been
so great that the price has gone up to $25 or more per gal-
lon, yet the industry has operated at a loss during the
past several years. A float load of oysters that formerly
would cull out 18 to 20 bushel of good marketable oysters
has in recent years only yielded from one to two bushel
of poor quality oysters. The load consists principally of
shell of dead oysters. Meats of the live oysters are poor.

The set of seed is very poor. There is no place where
seed can be had, as this is the only place in the world
where this species grow. The prolific State Reserve beds
in Oakland Bay have been entirely destroyed.

The Fisheries report above referred to, printed in
1949, predicted serious trouble ahead. Their careful in-
vestigation eliminated by facts therein set out, all other
factors than one; Sulfite Pulp Mill Waste. Oyster growers
have felt in their hearts that this was true, and have
been fighting for better controls of this waste for some
twenty-five years.

In conclusion, I must say that The Olympia Oyster
industry is very sick. In fact it is, at this writing, on its
death bed, unless the knife that is stabbing at its heart
can be removed. Those who love the Olympia Oyster, and
who grew it still have hope. In nature there is always
survival; no such thing as extermination of species by
nature. But trade waste is man-produced poison. There
must also be progress in industry. But man has been
given intelligence to find ways and means to prevent the
trade waste from destroying the natural resources so
that all may survive and live together.

(99)

(100)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

Other Oystermen I Have Known

AS HAS BEEN STATED, OYSTER BAY HAS BEEN
from the beginning, the heart of the Olympia Oyster in-
dustry.

The Indians recognized that fact. Oysters abounded
here in their native state. The tide flats were rather
level, were well protected from the storms, and the
oysters were easy to get. Therefore most of the natural
beds had been occupied and claimed by Indians at the
time of the passage of the Callow Act by the first State
legislature. This qualified them as the purchasers of the
Oyster land they were occupying.

Appearing there, we find their names, or the English
names they had adopted on the original Plats of Oyster
land in the office of the State Land Commissioner. Olym-

(101)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

pia Jim, Mary Olympia Jim, Dick Jackson, Sandy
Wohaut, James H. Tobin, H. R. Weatherhill (whose wife
was an Indian), J. A. Gale, Jack Slocum, Jim Simmons,
and C. William Krise. Many of these Indians were per-
sonally known to me. So far as I can learn all of them
have passed on. They were then people of the older
generation and knew little or nothing of the industrial
methods of the whites, and were not able to cope with
them. Most of them soon sold their oyster beds and mov-
ed to their Indian Reservations; some to Squaxin
Reservation, others to the Yakima Reservation, or else-
where.

A few Indians were employed as oyster workers. For
the most part they performed their work in a satisfact-
ory manner when supervised. They were good boatmen,
and very skilled in handling oyster floats with a pole.
But in hunting or fishing season they would lose interest
in their work; their eyes would turn toward the woods or
down the Bay toward the fishing grounds. They would
yield to the impulse to follow the life of their ancestors
and no matter how important the work you were doing
they would slip away without notice.

The Indians kept leaving gradually, and it was only
a few years until they were practically gone. Charley
Johns and his wife Mary, their son, Delbert, and his
children and Jamison Peters, son of Joe and Molly Peters,
are, I believe the only Oyster Bay Indians who have con-
tinued to work in the oyster industry to the present time.
They were replaced mostly by the Japanese, who took
readily to this work and were very satisfactory.

Dick Jackson was an interesting old Indian. For years

(102)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

he lived on the land adjoining his oyster beds. After he
sold his oyster beds, he went into the chicken business.
The difficulty these people had in adjusting themselves
to modern methods is illustrated by his failure. One day
he told me, "Chickens no good for Indian. White man
chickens get all time more, get much eggs; Indian chic-
ken die, get no eggs. Oyster better for Indian. All time
muk-a-muk (food)." So he retired to Squaxin Island Re-
servation where he could dig clams and catch fish. The
last time I saw him I said, "Well, how are you today,
Dick?" His answer, "Oh fine, only all time sick."

Sandy Wohaut, whose oyster beds I acquired after his
death, gave me a bit of Indian lore. At the south end of
his beds a narrow but deep gorge extends back into the
upland. It has rather a level bottom, a fine bubbling
spring, and alder trees. He said that when the Yakima
Indians declared war on them all the Indians of Oyster
Bay would come there, hide in this ravine until the raid
was over, living on oysters and clams. They must have
done that for many years, for I took many scow loads of
oyster shell from there rotting with age, and spread
them on the oyster beds. They proved to be good cultch.

I have already given the story and life of the early
pioneers of O^^ster Bay. It would not be a complete his-
tory of the Olympia Oyster without mention of others,
who from time to time, have come into the picture; the
younger generation. For instance, J. J. Brenner took his
son. Earl G. Brenner, into his firm, after he returned from
service at the end of World War I, about 1918. Earl
gradually assumed his place of leadership. In turn Earl's
two sons Earl R. and John, also took their place in the

(103)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

firm. J. J. Brenner is still president, while each of the
younger generations are officials of the corporation and
perform the more active duties. They are all capable and
highly respected by their fellow oystermen and fellow
citizens. They have inherited fine qualities of thrift and
natural ability from their ancestors.

Dave McMillin, a biologist and former scholar of Dr.
Kincaid, formerly with the State Fisheries Department,
is now General Manager of the Olympia Oyster Com-
pany, and B. L. Taylor, President of the Pacific Coast
Oyster Growers Association, is Sales Manager. These
young m.en are taking over the operation of the largest
company in the oyster business in Puget Sound, in a very
able way.

Any old timer v/ill remember J. Y. V/aldrip. He was
one of the first to file on Oyster Land. When I first knew
him, he was manager of the oyster beds for the Olympia
Oyster Com^pany, and was affectionately called " Old
Joe." His son J. S. Waldrip has been closely connected
with the Olympia Oyster business for many years, and
was mentioned by Dr. Hopkins, Biologist, as being of
m.uch help to him in carrying on the experimental work
for the Fisheries Departm.ent mentioned elsewhere. His
son Nat is associated with him at this time, operating the
land formierly owned bj^ Jesse Bov/man and family.

Will Waldrip, a cousin of J. S. Waldrip, was also an
early employee of the Olympia Oyster Comxpany. Later
he puchased and operated the Weatherill beds. These
beds have again changed ownership, are owned by
Louise C. Wachsmuth of Portland, Oregon, and are oper-
ated by Ellison Brothers.

(104)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol})mpla Oyster

The Olympia Oystei Investment Co. of which Dr. G.
W. Ingham was President for so many years, has now
been consolidated with the Olym.pia Oyster Company,
and his son, Dr. Reed Ingham, is president of that com-
pany.

Many others during the years have come and gone. I
have briefly mentioned those who have been the back
bone of the Olympia Oyster industry in Oyster Bay. In
the decline of that industry some owners and operators of
oyster land, in an effort to use the land to the best avail-
able advantage, have recently substituted the Pacific
Oyster.

IN MUD BAY — ELD INLET

Mud Bay, in my judgement, ranks second in im-
portance in the bays where native oysters were found in
abundance, and in the place its oystermen and oysters
have taken in the Olym.pia Oyster industry.

As in Oyster Bay, a number of the original applicants
for oyster land titles were Indians. The names of Little
Charley, Mud Bay Lewis, Mud Bay Tom, Mud Bay
Charles, George Leshi, Mollie Peters, and Kate Charley,
appear on the original plats in the state land office.

Likewise Indians all sold their oyster land to the
white pioneers, and have long since passed away. Mollie
Peters and her husband Joe retained their oyster land
and have continued to operate it or lease it to others un-
til their death. Their son Jamison and family have oper-
ated these beds to the present time.

J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. and the Olympia Oyster
Company have owned and operated extensive beds in
conjunction with their holdings in other bays. Their part

(105)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

in this story has already been told, but there are others
in Mud Bay that I have known and desire to mention.

Way back in the beginning of our history of the
Olympia Oyster, Charley Brenner and his brother J. J.
Brenner, became interested in the native oyster. They
Vv^ere among the first, if not the first, to see a future for
this small but delicious bivalve. That was back in Ter-
ritorial days. The United States Government owned the
title, but the Indians had possession. So Charley and Jack
formed a partnership and acquired possession of a tract
of oyster land from, an Indian, on the west side of Mud
Bay.

Jack told me this story of their first experience in the
oyster business. After examining the beds they decided
they needed more seed on their ground. They knew of
the abundance of seed in Oakland Bay. But how to get
them to Mud Bay was the problem. There were no roads
connecting these bays in those days. The only means of
transportation was by water. There were no boats other
than Indian canoes and row boats. There were no motor
boats or power other than the strong muscle of man.
They knew how to use a push pole, for they had rafted
logs. So they built themselves two log floats and although
the distance was long and the currents hazardous, they
decided to undertake the voyage. They loaded the log
floats with oyster seed, and with the aid of the currents
and wind, and their push poles where they could reach
bottom, they made the trip. It took three days, but they
finally arrived in Mud Bay and the oyster industry was
on its way.

Charley Brenner filed on oyster land on the East side

(106)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

of Mud Bay. He developed it by use of a fine system of
dikes, grew a good oyster, and continued to operate it
until his death. His family still operates it.

Mud Bay was never the seed producing ground that
Oyster Bay was. Years later than the incident above re-
lated, J. J. Brenner Oyster Company acquired their
holdings in Oyster Bay. It was very good seed ground. I
have often seen their long string of scows loaded heavily
with oyster seed from their own beds, move out of Oyster
Bay, towed by their own power boat, to be planted on
their beds in Mud Bay. What a difference a new mode
of transportation has brought about.

History records that Michael T. Simmons was among
the first pioneers to settle in this region, and that Chris-
topher Columbus Simmons was the first white male child
to be born West of the Columbia River. It is therefore of
interest to know that several of his relatives have be-
come interested in oyster production in Mud Bay.

M. C. Simmons, a pioneer oysterman on the west
side of the bay, was one of these. He died many years
ago, but his widow carried on. Then their son Dudley
continued until his death. Those beds are now owned and
operated by Hershel H. Adams. On these beds are still
found the Olympia Oyster, about the last in Mud Bay.
ZaZa Simmons, another pioneer oysterman, is also re-
lated. He has been for many years an oyster grower and
packer on Mud Bay. His shucking plant is located near
his oyster beds.

The Ellison Brothers, Ray and Newell, are also re-
lated to the pioneer Simmons family through marriage.
In 1924 they purchased a small tract of Mud Bay land

(107)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

from the granddaughter of M. C. Simmons. Through in-
dustry and hard work they covered the mud with gravel
from the beach, diked the land and planted Olympia
Oysters on it. Thej' soon erected a small opening and
packing plant on the shore. They have prospered, and as
they have prospered, they have increased their oyster
beds in Mud Bay and acquired beds in both Oyster Bay
and South Bay. At the sam.e time they have remodeled
their plant, which is modern, sanitary, and convenient,
ranking among the best.

Ellison Brothers have struggled to prevent the decline
of the Olympia Oyster, but gradually they have found it
necessary to substitute the Pacific Oyster on some of
their ground. In 1955, they harvested only 812 gallon of
Olympia Oysters and 35,000 gallon of Pacifies.

Bob Bowers, son-in-law of Ray Ellison, became man-
ager of Ellison Brothers after World War II. He and both
Ellison Brothers have been leaders in the struggle to
prevent pollution of oystering waters in Mud Bay, where
the Olympia Oyster has declined until, unless something
happens soon to restore the waters to their natural state,
final extinction will have to be recognized.

IN OAKLAND BAY.

I have already spoken of the pioneer days and of
some of the pioneers of those days, Joe Deer and family,
Thomas O'Neil and family, A. L. McDonald and wife
Margaret. Also of the important part the State Oyster
Reserve of Oakland Bay has taken in the history of the
industry.

Others have also operated Olympia Oyster beds there.

(108)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

1 have in mind my good friend James Mitchel, who for
many years lived on the Narrows. Also Lawrence Gosser,
who still lives above the Narrows; and George Yoshihara
and family, who at one time had a well diked and heavily
producing bed. All of these have had to abandon their
beds. Not only the Olympia Oyster, but Pacific Oysters
as Vv^ell, have been wiped out by trade waste.

I have not spoken of the "Narrows" as an oyster pro-
ducing area. The "Narrows" divides the upper and the
lower parts of Oakland Bay. The waters are swift either
on an incoming or an out-going tide, and although deeper
than the other oyster ground, the conditions were ideal
for the setting of seed. Tongs were used to remove the
seed and oysters. In the early days, vast amounts of them
were taken from these waters.

Recently I have received new evidence in regard to
this. Angus O'Neil, son of pioneer oysterman Thomas
O'Neil of Shelton, made available a copy of a special
edition of the Mason County Journal. Grant Angle pio-
neer publisher, was then editor of the Journal. It bore
date of August 11, 1905.

A full page was given to the Olympia Oyster industry
and its importance to Mason County.

Several pictures illustrated the industry. One picture
shows the Narrows. Sixteen oyster boats can be seen,
each containing tongers for oyster seed.

Statistics are quoted showing that at that time 20,000
sacks, or 40,000 bushel of Olympia Oysters were being
marketed from Mason County annually, besides many
thousand sacks of seed oysters from the Narrows and
other State Reserves. Further that several hundred men

(109)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

were employed in the industry.

Above the "Narrows", when the tide is out, to this day
can be seen the remains of many old dikes. This shows
the result of dream.s that did not come true. This sys-
tem of grading and diking was done by early pioneers
whose names I never knew. But it is evident that the
dikes silted with fine mud and sand, that oysters did not
do well, and that the owners became discouraged and
abandoned them. It illustrates that conditions must be
right to grow Olympia Oysters with success. If not, much
hard work and expense will be wasted. This was true in
many other places where native oysters were not found
and artificial methods were used. The pioneers had to
learn the hard way, the trial and error method.

IN LITTLE SKOOKUM BAY.
Little Skookum Bay is a long and narrow Bay, ex-
tending in a northwesterly direction into Mason County.
It divides from Oyster Bay at Old Kamilche. The tidal
waters run swift in places; in other places it widens out.
Here the tide flats are more level and adaptable to the
cultivation of oysters. Likewise, other natural conditions,
such as salinity, water temperature, and oyster food,
were always favorable both for seed setting and the
growing of a good Olympia Oyster.

Native oysters were found there by the first pioneers.
U'lyssus (Les) Young and Dan Lynch were the early
pioneers of that bay. Dan Lynch passed away in the early
days. His two sons, Dan and Jerry took over the oyster
beds. They have both died, and the beds have been divid-
ed between Dan Lynch, Jr. and his sister, Mrs. Frank W.
Bishop.

(110)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ohjmpia Oyster

Les Young owned oyster land near Old Kamilche.
x\lso a beautiful upland tract near the beds where he
built his home. The bay widens out at his place into a
cove, where there were native oysters. When the diking
and leveling era arrived he, in common with other oyster-
men, began to think of expanding his oyster land area.
He was faced with a very difficult problem; much more
so than in those areas in the upper waters of Oyster Bay
and Mud Bay where the tide flats v/ere level. But Les was
a hardy pioneer, and a lot of hard work did not discour-
age him.

In planning this development, he did a wonderful
job of engineering. The results showed that he had much
knowledge of tidal flow and of the effect of the winds
and storms. Also of the dike level necessary to get best
results. One of his greatest problems was to construct
the dike in such a way that the silt or mud would not
collect behind the upper dike, and so the currents would
flow over the beds in such a way as to deliver food to the
oysters. These problems were caused by the contour of
the cove.

To accomplish th^se things it was necessary to put in
a long, curved, high dike. In fact, it was too high to con-
struct with any material used in those days, so he m.ade
use of the nearest thing at hand — a sort of clay, gravel
and mud. Other oystermen predicted it would wash out,
but Les was sure of its holding qualities. He also knew^
how the tide current flowed, and from whence the winds
came. (See picture).

It required a tremendous amount of material both for
the dike and the long deep fill behind it. This was all

(111)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

done by hand labor, loading on log floats or scows from
the shore, polled out and dumped at high tide. Finally it
was leveled up, the dike closed and oysters planted. Les
produced a fine oyster as long as he lived and his step-
sons, Herbert, Hum.phrey and Arthur, have cultivated
oysters there to this day.

The J. J. Brenner Oyster Co. also owned and develop-
ed oyster land in that bay, and still operates them.

IN NORTH BAY.

North Bay was not extensively developed in the early
days, and a large part of it was set aside by the State as
an oyster reserve. Those who did try to develop it had
great difficulties, and the quantity of oysters shipped
from there was relatively small.

The streams flowing into this Bay are small, but in
the rainy season they overflow. They wash silt and sand
down over the beds v/hich covered the oysters.

Finally Humphrey Nelson, of Little Skookum Bay,
largely solved this problem by constructing an artificial
current system which flushes silt out of the dikes. He
also successfully used lath, covered with a thin coating of
cement, and suspended above the bottom. Olympia Oys-
ter seed set on this and in a short time the lath disinte-
grated and the oysters dropped onto the ground. He grew
some good oysters where others had failed.

IN SOUTH BAY.
South Bay had but a small area where Olympia
Oysters thrived. That part was developed. Harry Allen
owned and operated the beds for some years, then sold
to Everett (Pete) Maynard. Pete has a few Olympia Oys-
ters at this time.

(112)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Olympia Oyster Peculiarities.

THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD NOT KNOW ONE
Olympia Oyster from another if they saw them in the
shell. Yet, there is a difference; each locality produces
an oyster that is slightly different. This difference was
soon learned by customers who bought them in the shell.
They could look at an oyster and tell the ground on which
it was grown. This was very important to them, for some
oysters opened easier than others, and some oyster beds
produced oysters that were fatter than others; had more
meat content. A hard shell oyster was a better shipping
oyster, but took longer to open. From a fat oyster the
customer got more oyster meat per bushel or sack.

The appearance of the oyster meat was also a factor.
The oysters grown on beds in one locality have a very

(113)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

dark rim or mantle; from another locality the mantles
are much lighter in color. Each customer had his pre-
ference. Many famous oyster houses where Olympia oys-
ters were served advertised the special quality of the
oysters they served because they came from a certain
selected oyster bed. This made it difficult for the grower
or packer when the trade became too particular. But
when production began to decline and Olympia Oysters
became scarce, these difficulties disappeared. Then the
question asked by the customers was, "Can you supply us
with Olympia Oysters?"

Yes, each oyster has its own personality.

(J 14)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Benefactors

F. W. MATHIAS

SOME PEOPLE JUST DO THINGS BECAUSE THEY
love to do them. Others because they have a financial
interest in what they do. Such is the relationship be-
tv/een F. W. (Mat) Mathias and the Olympia Oyster. He
has never owned or operated an Olympia Oyster bed nor
had any financial interest in the packing or distribution
of them. Yet, he has contributed generously of his time
and energy.

Mat was Secretary of the Olympia Chamber of Com-
merce for thirteen years. Before he came here, he was a
booster for Olympia Oysters because he was fond of them
as a food. When he accepted the said position in 1941, he
took up as his keynote the advancement of Olympia's ex-
pansion by the use, in all the city's publicity, of the

(115)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

phrase "Olympia, the home of the Olympia Oyster." This
received popular approval, and many an article was
written and published in magazines and newspapers
which gave extensive advertisement to both. Mat joined
the Olympia Oyster Growers Association. He attended
our meetings regularly, and helped us to solve our pro-
blems. He served on m.any important committees. He has
a sense of compatability and diplomacy, balanced with
good judgement. Although he had no financial interest
he paid his dues, performed important duties requiring
travel expense without remuneration.

This continued, not only during the boom days of the
industry, but during its decline to the present time. He
has fought for the protection of the natural resources of
our state, our oysters, clams, fish and other sea food, but
especially the Olym.pia Oyster. He contends that the bal-
ance of nature in our waters must not be disturbed, and
that trade waste, especially sulfite liquor, should not be
permitted to enter our public waters. He has served on
our Pollution Committee for years.

The Olympia Oyster industry owes Mat Mathias a
great deal for his unselfish and very able service.

TREVOR KINCAID, SC. D., PROFESSOR EMERITUS,

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

and Consultant Washington State Dept. of Fisheries

This is another m.an who has been deeply interested in
Olympia Oysters most of his life, but has had no finan-
cial interest in them. He has had a long and illustrious
career in the University of Washington, as is witnessed
by his title. He has risen to the top. When he retired

(116)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol})mpia Oyster

he was recognized as an eminent biologist authority
throughout the United States. The Olympia Oyster was
one of his favorite subjects. He graduated hundreds of
students from his department. Many of them have be-
become well known biologists for other states, some for
the Department of Fisheries of the United States Govern-
ment or the Fish and Wild Life Department. Several have
found their place with the Washington State Department
of Fisheries. Others have become employed in the oyster
business in this state. Many of these biologists have
devoted themselves to oyster biology in this state to the
Olympia Oyster. So directl}^ and indirectly, Dr. Kincaid
has had a tremendous part and influence in that industry.
I have been told by those who attended his lectures
that they were something to look forward to. He had a
keen sense of humor, and a fitting story to illustrate each
point. This was true also in his public speaking. I have
many times joined his audience in laughter. I can well
remember the first time I saw Dr. Kincaid. It was about
the year 1905. I was driving a horse and buggy near the
Harry Weatherill oyster bed. Looking through the
woods, I saw a young m^an with a pole in his hand; on the
end of the pole was a net. His heavy black hair was di-
sheveled; he wore no hat; he was waving the pole wildly
in the air as he ran through the woods. Somewhat con-
cerned, when I arrived at the Weatherill home I told Mr.
Weatherill of the incident, and asked if there was a
wild man in their vicinity. He laughed and replied, No,
that is young Kincaid; he is just catching butterflies." He,
at that time, lived in Olympia, where his father was a
Doctor. Dr. Kincaid was for some years the City Health

(117)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

officer. It was long after that when I met Trevor as a
biologist, teaching in the University. From that time on,
he has been a close and beloved friend.

He was not only a close friend of the Olympia Oyster,
but of those who were engaged in the Olympia Oyster in-
dustry. He not only lectured about the Olympia Oyster
but wrote many articles about them for publication. His
advice was eagerly sought and followed by the oyster
growers.

FINALE

In closing, I wish to acknowledge and express my
appreciation to those who have assisted me in this at-
tempt to give a true and complete history of the Olympia
Oyster industry.

I also wish to apologize for any errors or lack of clar-
ity in composition. To consolidate fifty years of history
of an industry as com.plex in its activities as that of the
Olympia Oyster, with a balance of importance given to
each of its problems, and keep within reasonable limits
as to length, has taxed my memory and ability.

I also wish to extend my deepest appreciation to the
Olympia Oyster Growers Association and to all those en-
gaged in the industry for the friendship I have enjoyed
through the years. Also the honor they have bestowed
upon me by so many times delegating me as their repre-
sentative in matters of great importance to the industry
mentioned. These things have inspired my best efforts,
enriched my life and given me happiness.

(118)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

APPENDIX A

The Olympia Oyster and Pollution

THIS CHAPTER WILL TREAT ONLY WITH THE
pollution agents discharged into lower Puget Sound as
industrial waste and their deleterious effect upon the
Olympia Oyster with the resultant decline in the Olym-
pia Oyster industry.

To Olympia Oyster growers today, and the old timers
before them, it is evident that pollution is the principal
cause of the depletion of these delicious bivalves.

Before the white man appeared on the scene, these
oysters had flourished for centuries in this, their native
habitat. Early white settlers harvested the wild crops
for over 40 years until the diking system was developed
and vast stretches of tide flats were transformed into
tidal pools. With the advent of the diking system, the pro-

(119)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

duction of Olympia oysters increased annually and from
1924 to 1928 an average annual yield of 48,000 bushels was
attained. (1)

In 1927, a sulphite pulp mill was constructed in Shel-
ton, Washington. The mill was located along the city's
water front and the wastes from the pulp manufacturing
process were discharged into Oakland Bay. Pulp pro-
duction at this mill averaged 45,000 tons annually until
1934, when production was increased to 60,000 tons an-
nually.

By 1943, production had risen to 74,000 tons annual-
ly (1). It is estimated that during the first years of opera-
tion, the mill discharged 280,000 gallons (2) of waste li-
quor daily into the water of Oakland Bay. This was in ad-
dition to an estimated 12 million gallons of "white water"
containing bleaching compounds and other chemicals.
The results of this dumping of pollutants into oystering
waters came swiftly and were devastating to the Olym-
pia Oyster Industry. In the period between 1927 and 1933
Olympia Oyster production declined 57% from the 1926
peak to a low of 19,000 bushels. Between 1931 and 1934
the pulp mJll disposed of its liquor into Goose Lake, a
small body of water west of the city of Shelton, and in
settling ponds on Scotts Prairie nearby. A temporary
trend toward recovering oyster production began in
1934 and reached 23,000 bushels in 1936. This small re-
covery peak was nullified when waste sulphite liquor
began finding its way from the Goose Lake area, down
Goldsborough Creek into the waters of Oakland Bay.

(1) Washington State Fisheries Bulletin 49 -A

(2) U. S. Fisheries Bulletin No. 6 1931 (Page 177)

(120)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

Experimental oyster plantings in Oakland Bay, financed
by the pulp mill, had been producing some oysters dur-
ing the period of dumping the liquor to Goose Lake; but
when the liquor began returning down Goldsborough,
these experimental beds were wiped out and the exper-
iment was given up as a failure.

The Washington State Oyster reserves, which prior
to the advent of the pulp mill, had been producing two-
year-old Olympia Oysters for seed were never again able
to furnish seed and to this day produce nothing. Thus, an
important source of revenue has been lost to the state.

The following table and quotations from Washington
State Fisheries 36th and 37th Annual reports throw
much light on the condition of the State Oakland Bay
Oyster Reserves.

Year No. of Sacks Selling Price

1925 3,467.4 $6,934.80

1926 _..„__1,368.1 $2,736.20

1927 1,894.2 $3,788.40

1928 2,239.3 $4,478.60

"According to the general custom in handling the seed
in Oakland Bay beds, after the 1927 seed was sold from
the upper dikes, the 1926 catch of seed in the beds close
to the narrows was moved into the upper dikes and this
seed in turn produced the two-year-old stock sold in
1928. The lower beds left open for the setting of spat in
1927 did not produce any seed and again last season, 1928,
no set developed, likewise in 1929; to date indications
point to another barren season. Mill operations were not
fully underway in 1927 until after the usual oyster

(121)

The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster

spawning period but the absence of any spawning in
1928 and the indications for a barren season in 1929 have
indicated that the wash water and considerable diluted
liquor discharged from the Rainier (1) plant into Oakland
Bay might be the contributing factor which is upsetting
oyster spawning conditions of the state owned reserves
and private oyster beds." (2)

Experiments with Olympia Oysters and sulphite li-
quor were carried out by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries
in 1930, at the request of local oystermen, under the
direction of Dr. A. E. Hopkins, recognized the world
over as one of the most brilliant acquatic biologists avail-
able. Dr. Hopkins summ.ary states in part, "The dilution
at which sulphite waste liquor toxicity ceases, when long
periods of exposure are considered, cannot be stated.
Only complete exclusion of liquor from oyster producing
waters can be considered as safe." (3)

Waste sulphite liquor contains also certain wood su-
gar components which provides nourishment to a chain
diatom that grows naturally in the waters of Puget
Sound.

This diatom (Melosira Borreri) normally "blooms" or
grows heaviest in the early springtime when nutrient
matter is conveyed to the Puget Sound waters by heavy
spring rains. When fed by waste sulphite liquor this
diatom will develop abnormally throughout all four
seasons. These growths have at times gathered in some

(1) The name was later changec to "Rayonier"

(2) Washington State Fisheries Annual Reports Nos. 36 and 37

(3) U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Buttetin No. 6 — 1931

(122)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympic Oyster

Olympia Oyster dikes tc a depth of 6 inches. Entire beds
of Oysters have been smothered by a heavy, brown
blanket of Melosira, which dense growth Biologist Har-
vey C. McMillin describes as indicating a disturbed con-
dition of the water in which it normally grows in small
amounts. (1)

In view of the terrible losses of Olympia Oysters,
many Olympia growers sued Rayonier for crop and tide-
land damage caused by waste sulphite liquor. Out-of-
court settlements were made amounting to thousands of
dollars, most of which the oystermen re-invested in im-
proving their oyster ground in the mistaken belief that
pollution would be abated. The citizens of Shelton con-
tributed at least $150,000 dollars to pay damage settle-
ments for the pulp mill when the mill threatened to close
its doors. These citizens have never been reimbursed for
their contributions to the pulp mill cause.

Wartime conditions resulted in temporary closure
of the mill in August 1943. It remained closed until Octo-
ber 1945, when it re-opened and ran at a reduced scale,
burning the great bulk of its liquor in a newly construct-
ed evaporator disposal unit. (2) By fall of 1945 the Olym-
pia Oyster beds were beginning to look more productive,
the seed catch each year was looking better and the
oystermen at last looked forward to an oyster production
sufficient to fill their many orders. Pulp production at
the mill began once more to climb and with the increased
production came an increase in the pollutional load dis-
charged to Oakland Bay. In 1948, production at the mill

(1) U. S. Fisheries Bulletin No. 6 — 1931

(2) Washington Fisheries Bulletin 49-A

(123)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

was doubled and the State Reserves in Oakland Bay,
which had started a comeback, were again wiped out.

Oystermen in adjacent bays began to experience
heavy mortalities in the lower dike levels and even the
clams began to come up out of the ground and die on the
beaches.

In 1949, the State Fisheries Department published
Bulletin 49-A which contained data on a study conducted
by State Shellfish Biologists over a period of two years
on the effects of sulphite waste liquor on Olympia Oys-
ters. The summary of their findings is presented below:

"1. During the period of 1927-1945 an unusual decline
occurred in the Olympia oyster fishery of southern
Puget Sound. There were years in which young oysters
failed to set in areas where a regular spatfall had pre-
viously been the rule. Gallons of meats obtained per sack
of unshucked oysters decreased during this period by
25 per cent. The mortality of mature oysters increased
from 10 to 20 per cent (normal) to 30 to 50 percent and
higher. Finally, the over-all production of the industry
fell to 43 per cent of its previous value.

2. A number of possible causes of this decline were
investigated and found to be inadequate to explain any
but a small fraction of this alarming decrease. Sulphite
pulp mill waste alone appeared to offer a sufficient cause.

3. Accordingly an experiment was performed to test
the lethal effect over a long period of time of very low
concentrations of from 13.0 to 128.9 parts per million of S.
W. L. in flowing sea water for 575 days. In that time mor-
talities range from 98 per cent in the highest concentra-

(124)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

tion to 70 per cent in the lowest, while two controls
showed death of oysters amounting to 52 and 53 per cent
respectively. Statistical analysis of these results indic-
ated an undeniable correlation between the mortality of
the oysters and concentration of S. W. L. even at these
low concentrations; concentrations at least as low as 13.0
ppm. are inimical to continue Olympia oyster culture.

4. Tidal current studies showed that fresh mill wastes
from Oakland Bay could reach any of the oystering areas
in lower Puget Sound within a period of a few days.

5. It is concluded that pulp mill wastes originating
at Shelton, Washington, were the most probable cause
of the alarming decline in oyster production noted above
for the following reasons:

A. All other possible factors were investigated and
were found not to have constituted sufficient cause for
the depletion of the fishery.

B. The time of pulp mill operation is correlated with
the period of decline: the shut-down of the pulp mill was
followed by definite improvement in oyster sets and fat-
ness of mature oysters.

C. Concentration of S. W. L. as low as 13.0 ppm. were
experimentally demonstrated to have indisputable de-
leterious and lethal effects on Olympia oysters.

D. Tidal currents showed that pulp mill pollution
from Oakland Bay could reach Oyster Bay on one tide
and other oystering areas within a few days. It is obvious
that Oakland Bay itself would b)ecome polluted.

6. A modification of the Pearl-Benson test is present-
ed, consisting essentially in the application of photo-
electric calorimetry to the reading of the treated samples

(125)

The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster

together with a method of minimizing the effect of vary-
ing natural water color.

7. Employing this method of analysis a comprehensive
study of the waters of the region was made during the
period of mill closure. The data gathered will make pos-
sible accurate determinations of very low concentrations
of S. W. L. if present in the future.

8. It is recommended that no S. W. L. be permitted in
Olympia oyster waters since the hypothetical threshold
of tolerance lies between concentrations of zero to 13.0
parts per million.

9. Provided this pollutant can be kept from the waters
of southern Puget Sound, the native industry should-
with proper management practice—recover and yield
considerable greater annual harvests of oysters than has
been possible during the past twenty years." (1)

As this is written, Olympia Oyster production has
declined to an all time low. It is estimated that 1957 pro-
duction will be less than 1 ,300 bushels with practically no
production possible in 1958.

The Washington State Pollution Commission is re-
porting sulphite liquor concentrations over Olympia
Oyster beds and in practically all the waters of lower
Puget Sound. These concentrations are correlated direct-
ly with the operation of the Shelton pulp mill. Unless
firm decisive action is taken by responsible state author-
ities within the next few months, the Olympia Oyster
v/ill go on down to virtually complete extinction and an-
other of our great natural resources will be lost for all
time to come.

(V Washington State Fisheries Bulletin No. 49-A

(128) THE END.

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "The rise and decline of the Olympia oyster"

See other formats