116 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



The same laws as were quoted for Dennis, the two towns having 

 common fishery rights. 



The 1904-05 season was prosperous, as Yarmouth scallopers had the 

 privilege of scalloping in the large bed off Dennis. The two following 

 years were very poor, and even the last season has not been up to the 

 average. 



Oyster ( Ostrea Virginiana ) . 



Introduction. 



Eesolves of 1905, Chapter 73. 



fitsolved, That the commissioners on fisheries and game are hereby 

 authorized and directed to make a biological investigation and report as 

 to the best methods, conditions and localities for the propagation of oysters 

 under the conditions found in Massachusetts waters. The commissioners 

 may expend for the purposes of this resolve a sum not exceeding five hun- 

 dred dollars a year for a period of three years. 



As authorized by the above act, the Commissioners on Fisheries and 

 Game have conducted experiments of a biological nature upon the 

 oyster. At the start of the investigations, for a proper understanding 

 of the various conditions in the different localities, it was necessary to 

 make a survey of the oyster industry of the State. Recently this survey 

 has been supplemented by sending printed questions to the oystermen, 

 and the whole put in the form of a report, which gives an account of 

 the industry. This first report on the oyster is merely a broad survey 

 of the whole industry of the State, and is preliminary to future reports 

 of a more scientific character. 



The Need of a Survey. — In 1879 Mr. Ernest Ingersoll, in his " Mon- 

 ograph on the Oyster," 1 gave an excellent account of the oyster industry 

 of Massachusetts. Since that time no complete account, either statisti- 

 cal or biological, has been written. Meanwhile, the oyster industry 

 of the State, owing to its steady improvement, has changed in the past 

 twenty-eight years, and what was true of 1879 is not true of 1907. 

 Not only have localities changed and new areas been opened up, but 

 also the whole industry has expanded through the enterprise and busi- 

 ness ability of the oystermen, and to-day Massachusetts possesses an 

 oyster fishery which more than doubles the production of 1879. Thus 

 a survey of this fishery, by comparison with that of 1879, shows the 

 changes that have taken place, and gives some idea of the growth of 

 the industry. 



It is hoped that this report will furnish sufficient data to give actual 

 knowledge of the conditions of oyster culture in the State, show the 

 success of this industry, and indicate what is essential for its future 

 improvement. It is necessary, in view of the conflict between the qua- 



1 The Oyster Industry in the United States. Tenth Census of the United States. 



