OF MASSACHUSETTS. 15 



-entire system, and the foundation upon which depends its whole 

 success, must be insured by proper legislation rigorously en- 

 forced, and accompanied by severe penalties. 



Leasing of the Grants. — Every citizen of the Commonwealth 

 is entitled to participate in this system, but for obvious reasons 

 an inhabitant of any coast town should be given first choice of 

 grants within the boundary of his particular town. The first 

 grants might be given by allotment, but after the system had 

 become well established, they could be issued in the order of 

 their application. 



Water Pollution. — The sanitary condition of the marketed 

 shellfish taken from contaminated waters is not only at present 

 to some extent endangering the public health, but is placing an 

 undeserved stigma upon a most reputable and valuable source 

 of food supply for the public. The public should demand laws 

 closing, after proper scientific investigation, these polluted 

 areas, and conferring the power to thoroughly enforce such 

 laws. The danger arising from contamination should be re- 

 duced to a minimum by prescribing some definite regulations 

 for transferring shellfish from these polluted waters to places 

 free from contamination, where the shellfish may in brief season • 

 be rendered fit for the market. 



It should be unlawful to use any brand, label or other device 

 for designation, intended to give the impression that certain 

 oysters offered for sale were grown at specified places, e.g., Co- 

 tuit, Wellfleet, Wareham, etc., unless such oysters were actu- 

 ally planted, grown or cultivated within the towns or waters 

 designated, for a period of at least three months immediately 

 previous to the date of marketing. Furthermore, there should 

 be appointed proper inspectors, whose duties would be to guar- 

 antee by certificates, labels and stamps the purity of shellfish 

 placed upon the market, and likewise have the power of en- 

 forcing severe penalties on violators. 



