THE OYSTER. 103 



greater than that which flowed in the same direction 

 after the publication of M. Coste's report. 



One of the most interesting and instructive lessons 

 to be learned from this history of oyster farming in 

 France is that private industry in this field, as in all 

 others, can accomplish more than government ; and, as 

 the cultivation of private farms spreads, the advisability 

 of devoting all suitable grounds to this use becomes 

 more and more apparent. 



Experience teaches, the world over, that the most 

 efficient agent for the preservation and development of 

 natural wealth is private enterprise. 



The opposition in Maryland at present to the grant- 

 ing of any natural oyster-bed to private holders is very 

 strong indeed, but little insight into the future is needed 

 to perceive that the disappearance of this feeling would 

 result in an enormous increase in the prosperity of our 

 people. 



OYSTER FARMING IN AMERICA. 



The American system of oyster farming, which pre- 

 sents some features of resemblance to the French sys- 

 tem, and also many differences, has grown up as the 

 result of private enterprise, without any help or any 

 direct encouragement from government. 



The French people are generally held to be the orig- 

 inators of modern oyster farming, but, as an Ameri- 

 can, I take pleasure in pointing out that our own in- 

 dustry, which is now so extensively developed in Con- 

 necticut, has not been borrowed from France, but has 

 grown up independently. 



