8 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



of the native oyster beds necessitated legislative consideration, 

 and for years the oyster industry above and below low-water 

 mark in this and other States has been dealt with by a similar 

 system. The plan here suggested would be but a direct ex- 

 tension of a well-tested principle towards the cultivation of 

 other species of mollusks. The financial value to the fisher- 

 men of such a step has been proved beyond all question in this 

 State during the past three years by the demonstrations of the 

 Massachusetts department of fisheries and game. These ex- 

 periments have proved that tidal flats, with small outlay of 

 capital and labor, will yield, acre for acre, a far more valuable 

 harvest than any upland garden. 



This system has the further element of success by being 

 based on individual effort, in contrast to the present communal 

 regulation of shellfisheries. In all business individual initia- 

 tive and effort furnish the keynote of success, and the future 

 wellfare of the shellfisheries depends upon the application of 

 this principle. 



Nature cannot without the aid and co-operation of man re- 

 pair the ill-advised, untimely and exhaustive inroads made in 

 her resources. This is shown in the thousands of acres of good 

 farm lands made unproductive by unwise treatment, and by 

 the wasteful destruction of our forests. It is as strikingly 

 shown in the decline of our shellfisheries. The fisherman ex- 

 hausts the wealth of the flats by destroying both young and 

 adults, and returns nothing. The result is decrease and ulti- 

 mate extermination. The farmer prepares his land carefully 

 and intelligently, plants his seed and in due time reaps a har- 

 vest. If the fisherman could have similar rights over the 

 tidal areas, he could with far less labor and capital and with 

 far greater certainty year by year reap a continuous harvest 

 at all seasons. The success of the leasing system in other 

 States, notably Louisiana, Rhode Island and others, is definite 

 and conspicuous. 



The Obstacles to this Proposed System. — Before the pro- 

 posed system of titles to shellfish ground can be put in actual 

 operation, it is absolutely necessary to have all rights and spe- 

 cial privileges pertaining to shore areas revested in State con- 

 trol by repeal of certain laws. In this centralization of author- 



