For more than 50 years it has been very active in providing support to Stewart Memorial . Many fundraisers and donations received have enabled the Auxiliary to purchase much equipment, furniture and other furnishings, everyday necessities and useful items for the hospital. Among the fundraisers were large tea parties held at the Mount Pleasant Airport for several summers. The young people of the area contributed proceeds from a Hot Dog Stand operated by the Bideford CGIT. Substantial amounts of money were given to assist the Hospital Board and Foundation with major expenditures. Generous donations were also given in response to appeals from the and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals , to assist in acquiring large items of equipment to benefit all people of Prince Edward Island . The 50TH Anniversary of the Auxiliary was celebrated in November 2000 in the hospital boardroom with an Appreciation Tea hosted by the hospi¬ tal staff. Charter members were honored. The Executive of the PEI Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries attended. A record of the Auxiliary's achievements had been compiled with copies available. Ten delegates from Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary attended the 50TH Annual Convention of the Canadian Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries which was held in Charlottetown May 27-29, 2001. Oyster Culture In the late 1800's, oysters from , Prince Edward Island , had become famous for their abundance and fine quality. However, due to a contagious disease, production declined seriously in the early 1900's and in 1915 the Malpeque fishery disappeared for many years. Over 90% of the oysters died from the disease. By 1922 there were signs of recovery, but improvements were very slow. In 1928 an agreement was entered into between the Federal Department of Fisheries and the Province of Prince Edward Island whereby the juris¬ diction of the Prince Edward Island oyster fishery and oyster-producing waters was handed over to the Federal Department of Fisheries. The Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Dr . William A . Found, asked the Fisheries Research Board to appoint a biologist to study oysters and to attempt scientific oyster farming as a means of restoring the fishery. The Board appointed Dr. A.W.H. Needier in 1929 and interest centered at 78 Roots & Branches