DETERIORATION OF AMERICAN OYSTER-BEDS. 39 



mature oysters was found to be considerably larger than that on the 

 unworked beds, and there was thus, apparently, a much increased pro- 

 duction upon the former areas, or the ratio apparently indicated that, 

 instead of deteriorating, the beds were improving, though all other 

 indications were the reverse. 



It is evident that, if the number of young growth falls below the 

 number of mature oysters, the fecundity of the bed is impaired ; but 

 it does not follow that, if the young greatly outnumber the mature, it 

 is a sign of increased production, for, though the ratio may be 

 increased by increasing the antecedent, or the number of young, 

 it may also be increased by diminishing the consequent, or num- 

 ber of mature oysters. We know that from the beds in question 

 many millions of oysters are annually removed, and that a large 

 percentage of them are mature ; and, if this removal of one class 

 is excessive, it might show itself in the increased ratio of young 

 oysters to mature. Supposing this to be the case, the young would 

 then greatly outnumber the mature for about three years, or the 

 period necessary to pass from youth to maturity. During this 

 period there is a constant removal of the brood-oysters, and, as the 

 reproduction depends upon them principally, the number of young 

 spawned during that period will constantly decrease, so that at the 

 end of three years the mature oysters would probably outnumber the 

 young, and the ratio be as abnormally small as it was abnormally 

 large. Now, with the large number of mature oysters there would be 

 an increased production, and at the end of the second period of three 

 years the ratio would again change, and in this way will increase and 

 diminish alternately, while the number of oysters will constantly di- 

 minish. In time, however, the brood-oysters will become so scarce 

 and so widely separated that the fertilization of the eggs will be more 

 and more improbable, and the young will consequently remain in the 

 minority, and, the fishing continuing, the entire destruction of the 

 breeding power will be but a matter of time. 



During both seasons of the investigation of the question here dis- 

 cussed, every effort was made to collect statistics of the oyster-fish- 

 ery, and from these statistics has been estimated the number of oys- 

 ters removed in a day and in the season. In 1878 this number was 

 over 1,500,000 per day ; in 1879, over 700,000 per day. In the 

 sounds the dredging continues throughout the year, though compara- 

 tively little is done during the summer months. As the law sanc- 

 tions the working of the beds only from October 1st until May 

 1st, in order that any error may be in under- rather than in over-esti- 

 mation, I will consider the dredging to be confined to that period, 

 and will make the very liberal allowance of three days in each week 

 for bad weather which would prevent work. The dredging-season 

 would then be one of one hundred and twenty days, and in that time 

 there would be removed from the beds, by the estimate of 1878, over 



