It would be useless to give a synopsis of the laws of the several States, so far as they relate to the oyster-fishery, as long as we are ignorant both of the condition of the beds and of the amount of observance of the law. In the locality which has been investigated an inefficient law is entirely disregarded. An oyster-guard exists, but pays no attention to the duties assigned it, and the fishery is governed solely by the demands of the market and the necessities of the oystermen. What should be done in this locality, now that the condition of the beds is known, will be apparent to any one; and the sooner other localities are subjected to a similar examination and the condition of the beds determined, the better.
So far as it is possible to give an opinion which is suitable to all localities, it would seem that any legislation looking to the protection of the oyster-beds should comprise the following:
An organized and systematic effort to discover new beds and to extend the old ones. Continued experiments, in order to ascertain the possibility of artificially raising the oysters in sufficient numbers to restock impoverished areas. The maintenance of a commission to have charge of all matters pertaining to the fishery—the commission to be composed of intelligent men, having special knowledge of the subject and allowed considerable power, and to be so appointed and constituted that their acts will be influenced by no considerations other than those for the good of the beds. Under the control of the commission should be a fishery-guard, of sufficient power and importance to enforce the regulations of the commission.
The regulations of the commission should have in view the following desired results: The prevention of exhaustive dredging. The reservation of those beds or parts of beds upon which there is a large number of young growth. The prevention of the removal of the young growth from the beds. The close observance of the close-time, which should include the outer limits of the spawning-season. The cleansing of the beds before the advent of the young brood. The exposure of suitable "cultch" when a bed has been long worked, and the destruction of starfish, drills, or other enemies that may exist on the beds.
While I am unable to say with certainty that the beds of other localities than the one I have examined have been overworked, yet I should infer that such was probably the case; and, considering the surprising results of the investigation of one locality, and one which was supposed to be the most productive in the country, if not in the world, the investigation of others can not be too soon undertaken.
The probability of all our beds arriving in time at the forlorn condition of the European oyster-banks has been foreseen, and Professor Möbius warns us of the consequence of our exhaustive fishery in the following words: "In North America the oysters are so fine and so cheap that they are eaten daily by all classes; hence they are now,
