6 THE SCALLOP FISHERY 



more corn and potatoes. We do not call vociferously for a close 

 season on corn or potatoes, or for any other law which tends to 

 restrict the demand. Measures are taken as quickly as possible 

 to augment the supply. 



The necessary increased development of our shellfish supply 

 is notoriously prevented by antiquated and inadequate laws. 

 Agriculture cannot nourish where the community must depend 

 either upon natural yields ("volunteer" crops), or upon fields 

 tilled in common by persons whose chief aim is to selfishly 

 appropriate the results " before the other fellow " can. 



The capital required for cultivation of the water, aquiculture, 

 is far less than that required for successful cultivation of the 

 land, while the returns per acre are far greater, both in money 

 and in food value of the product. Our shores, therefore, offer 

 remarkable opportunities for the development of shellfish gar- 

 dens. Here employment could be furnished for many thousands 

 of unskilled laborers, in a healthy and remunerative occupation. 



To secure such desirable results the public mind must be 

 disabused of the false idea, almost universally and tenaciously 

 held, that the " public rights " of getting shellfish wherever 

 they may be found is a valuable and inalienable right. It is 

 equally illogical to apply the same reasoning to forest and fruit 

 trees, to strawberries, raspberries and cranberries, making these 

 the property of the person who discovers and markets them, 

 while at the same time making laws which prevent increasing 

 the natural yield through cultivation by individual owners or 

 lessees. The intelligent public cannot fail, however, to see, 

 upon careful and thoughtful consideration, that what has been 

 represented to be a boasted blessing is now in fact a veritable 

 incubus, impeding further progress, and to this are to be traced 

 many of the unfavorable conditions which check the development 

 of our fishing industries and the prosperity of our shore dwellers. 



An abundance of " sea food ' is a strong attraction to our 

 summer visitors. But the supply must be certain, regular, defi- 

 nite, readily accessible for quick consumption ; available in 

 sufficient quantities to meet special seasons of largely increased 

 demand ; and produced under unquestionable sanitary conditions. 



Further, the supply of bait for our shore fisheries is an ex- 

 ceedingly important item, and should furnish directly la rue 



