Publication Date
1963
Publisher
U.S Department of Fish and Game
Abstract
This publication, provided by the California Department of Fish and Game, provides a comprehensive history of the California oyster industry, tracing its development over time. This report documents the shift in production among California's major estuaries including San Francisco, Tomales Bay, Drakes Estero, Morro Bay and Humboldt Bay. The California oyster industry, after a long period of quiescence from about 1910 to 1955, has entered a period of increased production that probably will be sustained. The companies responsible for this growth feel they have demonstrated that relatively large-scale oyster culture can be successfully carried out in their areas, and are confident this will continue to be true. This optimism appears well founded in that the companies have had long experience in the oyster business. They serve a region where the population is increasing rapidly, and this, combined with the lack of other large California bays suitable for oystering, indicates market conditions will be favorable and stable. It is not likely the two large bays not presently used for oyster culture, San Francisco Bay and San Diego Bay, will be sufficiently cleared of pollution in the near future to enable the industry to utilize them. The upper part of San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, is not considered polluted but storms, floods, and silting are often severe there, and despite interest in developing an oyster industry on its extensive mudflats, the prospect of success seems questionable. Tomales Bay has been declining as an oyster producing center recently, but in the future a more vigorous company may fully develop the limited tide flats at the head of the bay. Much of Tomales Bay is deep and could possibly be more fully utilized for growing oysters by the Japanese method of hanging culture. Many small bays and lagoons along the California coast, such as Newport Bay in southern California, which might have been used to grow oysters, have been given over to other uses, chiefly recreation. The industry is not seriously plagued with destructive pests which it cannot control, nor pollution from domestic or industrial sources. There have been no oyster diseases such as those causing considerable losses to oystermen on the east coast.