Bideford River, a tributary of Malpeque Bay. The Fisheries Research Board erected a Biological Station on the Bideford River in 1929. It was a substation of the Atlantic Biological Station at St. Andrew’s NB. The Department set up a government reserve of oyster ground that was the beginning of the Prince Edward Island Experimental Oyster Farm. Dr. Needler was given direction of both. An experienced scientific co-work- er, Mr. H.P. Sherwood, was brought from Britain for a season. Dr. Needler visited with United States oyster biologists and oyster farmers and read reports from other countries. He and Mr. Sherwood tested methods that seemed promising.

Some Malpeque oysters had survived the 1915 epidemic disease and reproduced in scattered areas at the heads of creeks. Dr. Needler and Mr. Sherwood fished many of these oysters and planted them on oyster beds prepared in Bideford River, to serve as spawning stock. These survivors proved to be resistant to the disease. The spawn of the oysters (SPAT) needed to be collected. A spat collector which was invented in the USA, was tested by Dr. Needler. Although it was satisfactory as a spat collec- tor, when the spat were separated and planted on the bottom, starfish ate many of them and many others were washed ashore or were buried in silt. To overcome this, Dr. Needler invented the screen-bottomed board-cov— ered floating tray in which he reared seed oysters through their first sum- mer after they were removed from the collectors. By autumn most grew to bedding size, large enough to resist starfish attack and could be plant— ed on maturing grounds.

In the early 1930’s provisions were set up under which oyster farmers were able to lease suitable ground for oyster culture from the Federal Department of Fisheries. So many applications for oyster leases were received that the Department established a field administration head- quarters at the Prince Edward Island Biological Station. It would handle the acceptance of applications for oyster leases, the examination of areas applied for, the surveying and mapping of oyster leases, and the mainte— nance of records of all leases issued.

III 1936, H. Richard (Dick) Found of Ottawa, son of Dr. William Found, Was successful in obtaining an appointment to manage this administra— tion. At that time roads were not kept open for cars through the winter. It was very difficult to get around in the winter months to attend to the Various duties associated with the administration of oyster leases. As a Solution, Dick Found obtained plans and a kit to build a snowplane, which Was an enclosed plywood body on four skis, driven by a light aircraft

CHAPTER FOUR ~ MOVING ON 79