YEAR BOOK 77

FISHERIES OF P. E. ISLAND

Inspector of Fisheries-J. A. Matheson. Assistant Inspector of Fisheries—J. B. MacDonald

In the year 1912 the Government of Canada came to an agree- ment with the Government of P. E. Island under which the latter can lease areas for oyster culture while the former retains its rights in the navigable waters. Under the Act of Parliament which was passed as a result of the arrangement made between the Premier of this Province and the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, the Gov- ernment of Canada may “authorize the Government of any Pro- vince to grant leases of such areas of the sea coast, bays, inlets, harbours, creeks, rivers and estuaries, of such provinces, as the gov- ernment of such province considers suitable for the cultivation and production of oysters." Action was promptly taken by the Govern- ment of P. E. Island. Richmond Bay,—from which the famous ” Malpecs" are obtained—was at once surveyed by the Provincial Engineer. Mr. H. H. Shaw ; and subsequently, sections of St. Peter’s Bay, St. Mary’s Bay, Orwell Bay, Bedeque Bay, New Lon- don Bay and Cascumpec Bay were surveyed.

Richmond Bay was found to contain approximately 14,700 acres of barren bottom, the greater part of which is suitable for oyster culture. This large area has been divided into twenty-acre plots, each of which is sub-divided into plots of five acres each. Applications from adult persons who had been residents of the Pro- vince for not less than one year were solicited. A highly satisfac- tory response to the appeal has been made. Upwards of 5000 acres at the bottom of Richmond Bay and its tributaries have already been leased together with 55 acres at the bottom of North River, and about 2000 acres, applied for, have yet to be transferred to in- dividuals and companies. In addition to those areas there are ex- tensive areas at the bottom of St. Peter‘s Bay. St. Mary’s Bay, Orwell Bay, Bedeque Bay, New London Bay and Cascumpec Bay, which, with areas in Richmond Bay and its tributaries of Barbara Weit River, Indian River, Shipyard River, Oyster Cove., etc., re- main to be applied for and set apart for oyster cultivation by enter- prising men and firms, or by companies to be organized for that purpose.

Each lease granted has been duly registered at the Registry Office in Charlottetown and duplicates of the leases of areas in Prince County deposited in the Registry Office at Summerside. For the areas surveyed four plans have been prepared, and for the