848 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



14. That forms for all applications, grants, assign- 

 ments, and protests, should be determined upon by some 

 competent authority, and be adopted for use. 



15. That regular books of record and plots of the 

 grounds should be kept by the body controlling the fisheries, 

 and that all grants, transfers, and assignments should therein 

 be recorded. 



These suggestions were general, and of course admitted 

 of elaboration as might be deemed best. 



They provided for intelligent supervision of the whole 

 industry, for the opening of the undeveloped area, for the 

 maintenance of the rights of individuals and of the public, 

 and insured even justice to all. They contained the essen- 

 tial features of the Connecticut law, which had passed 

 beyond the domain of experiment, and their adoption by 

 the State would, I believed, bring about great benefits, 

 and would not, I knew, result to the detriment of anyone. 



The foregoing recommendations met with the approval 

 of his Excellency the Governor, and their general and im- 

 portant features were incorporated in his message to the 

 General Assembly. After a most elaborate discussion in 

 committee, a bill was reported which passed both houses, 

 and became a law on the 28th of February, 1887. It was 

 entitled " An Act to promote the cultivation of shell-fish in 

 the State," and a copy will be found a few pages further on. 

 OPERATION OF THE NEW LAW. 



The Board of Commissioners of Shell-Fisheries having 

 completed their labours, and the areas in the several coun- 

 ties, not included within the limits of the Public Grounds, 

 having been declared from time to time open for entry, 

 under the provisions of the new oyster law, an immediate 

 movement towards securing tracts began. The new depar- 

 ture of North Carolina had been largely advertised through 



