140 THE OYSTER. 



ruined by unrestricted tonging just as surely as by 

 dredging, and the statement that the small oysters are 

 destroyed by the dredge is not supported by my own 

 observation, while the claim of the dredgers that the 

 area of the natural beds has been enlarged by dredg- 

 ing is strictly true. The natural beds have been over- 

 taxed, and they are in great danger of total ruin, but 

 no particular set of oystermen are to blame for this. 

 Most of the oysters have been taken by dredges, be- 

 cause the dredge is the most efficient instrument for 

 the purpose, but the exhaustion of our beds is the 

 result of our bad system and the absence of all effort to 

 increase our supply by artificial culture. It is not 

 due to any particular way of catching oysters. 



The prohibition of dredging would result in great 

 hardship to a very great body of our citizens, and if 

 oystering upon the public beds is permitted at all, I do 

 not believe that any legislative interference with the 

 methods which are to be employed would be wise. It 

 is to the interest of the public that the oysters shall be 

 taken as economically as possible, and the most effec- 

 tive implement for the purpose is the best one. The 

 only way in which public beds can be preserved from 

 ruin is by the restriction of the crop from each bed to 

 the amount which it is found, by periodical examina- 

 tion by an expert, to be capable of yielding without 

 injury, but the most effective way of gathering this 

 crop is the best way. 



If after examination any natural bed is found to be 

 so much exhausted that it is no longer fit to yield a 



