206 THE OYSTER. 



known fact that large quantities of shells are purchased 

 here from the oyster business, and these shells, which 

 have until a short time been considered worthless, are 

 now selling for from eight to ten cents per bushel, to 

 be carried out of the State (mostly to New Haven) for 

 the purpose of planting them in deep water in Long 

 Island Sound, to catch the oyster spawn and for the 

 raising of oyster seed. These shells are taken up at 

 the expiration of two years, and, with the increase of 

 oysters adhering to them, are brought back to the 

 same parties selling the shells in the first instance, for 

 the purpose of planting in our waters, and the price 

 paid for them is from forty to fifty cents per bushel." 



The statement which I made twelve years ago, that 

 this is a matter of great importance, has been passed 

 over in absolute silence and has attracted no attention. 

 It seems now as if it were almost time that the enter- 

 prise of practical Connecticut oystermen should have 

 taught our people a lesson which they would not learn 

 from a scientific student. Years ago I recommended 

 that laws be passed requiring the return of shells to 

 the beds. The simplest way in which this could be 

 done would be to adopt the Connecticut plan of pri- 

 vate farming, and we may be sure that just so soon as 

 the fruits of private enterprise are secured to the cul- 

 tivators, private interest will lead to the return of the 

 shells to the water, as it has already done in Connec- 

 ticut. 



One of the causes to which the destruction of our 

 oyster-beds is often attributed is the exportation of 



