OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 953 



combined for reaching a certain definite practical object, 

 viz., the most advantageous carrying on of this industry, 

 therefore must all economical legislation, with a view to 

 the right adjustment of these, be made on scientific, tech- 

 nical, and economical principles. 



Fishery legislation must have due regard to the 

 teachings of science concerning the nature of fish, their 

 different species, propagation, growth, location, migra- 

 tions, &c. ; to the teachings of technology concerning the 

 different methods of catching fish, the implements em- 

 ployed, the contrivances for protecting fish against hurtful 

 influences, &c. ; but no less must it study the principles of 

 political economy, the ways and means of carrying on 



business in the most advantageous manner It 



must likewise study the true relation toward each other of 



all the industries carried on by means of water 



'Fishery legislation must also have due regard to judicial 

 and administrative considerations ; it must be based on a 

 thorough knowledge of the condition of fisheries in other 

 countries, of the fishery laws of those countries, as well as 

 of the laws and administrative regulations of all branches 

 of industry relating to fishing ; and it must study the 

 manner in which laws are carried out in foreign countries, 

 and the effect of such laws on the fishing interests. . . . 

 From the Government we must, above everything else, 

 expect that it will strictly carry out the laws made for 



protecting the fisheries To the Government 



we must likewise look for those general, far-reaching, and 

 therefore successful measures, which the fishing interests 

 require from time to time, even where there is a good 

 fishery law. 



However good in principle our fishery laws may be, 

 points can hardly fail to arise in which they are capable of 



