COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 37 



Jersey, appointed by the Governors of the various states, and in- 

 cluded representative fishermen, dealers, scientists, State and national 

 officials. The following resolutions were adopted: — 



"Whereas, this convention fully recognizes the fact that the 

 pioneer efforts of the United States Bureau of Fisheries in restraining 

 the short-sighted practices of fishermen and others in destroying 

 the eggs of the lobster have been well devised, economically adminis- 

 tered and beyond question have resulted in vast benefits not alone 

 to the fishermen themselves, but also to the consuming public; and 



Whereas, the unwise methods of exploiting the lobster fishery, 

 which have resulted from the constantly increasing public demand for 

 the lobster as food, has led to such an unmistakable and alarming 

 decrease in the sources of supply, which must shortly menace the 

 best interests of fishermen, dealers and the public of the entire 

 United States and of the Canadian Provinces; and 



Whereas, we are of the opinion that the Bureau of Fisheries is, 

 by training and experience, amply competent to deal with this great 

 problem if supported by Congress and the people, therefore, be it 



Resolved, That we hereby express our unqualified confidence in the 

 Bureau of Fisheries and urge the public necessity of checking the 

 enormous economic waste now existing, particularly in the destruction 

 of lobster eggs and of lobsters below and above the optimum market 

 size, the avoidable loss both in capture and in transportation, the 

 unfair practices in interstate shipments, and the insanitary methods 

 of marketing lobster meat; and be it further 



Resolved, That the delegates to this convention pledge support 

 in securing from Congress the federal legislation and appropriations 

 essential for adequately extending the work to the required activities 

 relating to consideration and adoption of improved practices necessary 

 for 



A. A greater annual natural production of lobster eggs; and 



B. The rearing of a greater number of young from the eggs 

 naturally produced. 



We are of the opinion that a union of public effort is necessary for 

 securing progress in increasing the annual production of lobsters 

 through extending the efforts for: — 



1. Salvage of eggs. 



2. Rearing the young for such a period and by such methods as 

 may best minimize the natural destruction during the swimming 

 period. 



3. Protection of the adults, male and female, above and below 

 the optimum market size (the so-called "double gauge) ; 



