ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



SUPERVISOR OF MARINE FISHERIES 



Hon. James J. Fox, Deputy Commissioner: '" 



Sir. — I herewith transmit report of the Bureau of Marine 

 Fisheries for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1914, as 

 required by section 303, part 10, of the Conservation Law. 



During the past year a great deal has been accomplished by 

 this bureau to promote the shellfish industry of the State and 

 to insure the consumer a wholesome pure food product. It is 

 the aim of this bureau to supervise all shellfish, from the water 

 through all hands until it reaches the consumer, which up to 

 this time has been impossible, owing to the fact that we have no 

 appropriation from the Legislature to pay for the services of a 

 bacteriologist, nor have we sufiicient appropriation to provide 

 a boat and outside force enough to carry on this work as it 

 should be. 



It is very important that this great industry be protected as 

 far as possible. We find that most oyster growers are desirous 

 of complying with the sanitary rules laid down by the Commis- 

 sion and are anxious to have certificates issued showing that 

 their product is taken under sanitary conditions. I would 

 recommend that this bureau issue sanitary certificates at as early 

 a date as possible. 



This bureau should be provided with a boat, large enough to 

 patrol the East river and Long Island Sound, to protect the 

 State lands and make surveys on lands leased to oyster growers. 

 Under existing conditions, this department is dependent upon 

 people who make application for oyster leases to take our pro- 

 tectors to the ground for inspection and then to take our sur- 

 veyor to the ground for survey. 



Considerable caution has been exercised by this department 

 to prevent the leasing of natural growth oyster grounds, and thus 

 far this bureau has been very successful in that respect, having 



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