THE OYSTER. 135 



not; and efficient laws were enacted for the protection 

 of private rights. 



The effect of this measure has been good in every 

 respect. The revenue of the State has been greatly 

 increased, and it is stated that the rentals of the beds 

 will in time pay all the expenses of the State govern- 

 ment. 



In 1865 oysters sold for $1.75 per solid gallon; in 

 1878 the price was $1.15 to $1.10, and in 1879 it had 

 fallen to 9O@95 cents. 



In 1865 the product of the State was 71,894 bushels, 

 while in 1879 ^ was 660,500 bushels. 



The area which was used for planting in 1879 was 

 only 962 acres, yet this area paid $6582.90 into the 

 State treasury; it employed a capital of over $1,000,- 

 ooo ; it paid $125,000 in wages to the people of the 

 State ; it furnished the market with 660,500 bushels of 

 oysters, with $680,500 to the producers, and it gave 

 support to 2400 persons. 



Until 1883 the Rhode Island grounds had been used 

 only for planting, and most of the seed oysters were 

 purchased from other States, yet the planted oysters 

 sold for three or four times the cost of the seed, and 

 it is doubtful whether there is any farming land in the 

 United States which yields as great a profit to the 

 acre as the bottoms which are used for oyster-planting 

 in Rhode Island. 



Our little revenue to the State treasury of about 

 fifty thousand dollars from nearly a million acres sinks 

 into insignificance when compared with the eleven 



