58 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



These were marked by punching a hole in one or more nippers of 

 the tail. 



CHANGES RECOMMENDED IN THE FISHERIES LAWS. 



The fisheries industry is a very important one in Rhode Island, 

 because of the amount of invested capital , the number of men employed, 

 and the income derived. It is, therefore, highly important that the 

 natural resources upon which it thrives should be conserved. This 

 past year your Commission has had under consideration a number of 

 changes, which if adopted, it confidently believes will materially assist 

 in lessening the effects of excessive fishing, which are already becom- 

 ing apparent. While realizing that over-fishing is the cause of much 

 of the decrease in our fisheries, your Commission desires to avoid as 

 much as possible any unnecessary restriction of the fishing and 

 merely aims to regulate it in such manner as will promote a healthy 

 condition. 



The recommendations include changes in both groups of our 

 fisheries laws — Lobster Laws and General Fisheries Laws — but are 

 largely concerned with the former. 



CHANGES URGED IN THE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY. 



In their consideration of the lobster industry, your Commission 

 has been brought face to face with a condition which demands the 

 most immediate attention. As was stated in the previous pages, 

 the lobster industry in this State, in common with other lobster pro- 

 ducing areas, has begun to feel the effects of excessive fishing. In 

 view of this recognized condition, a number of radical changes in the 

 existing laws have been under consideration, and upon these your 

 Commission would respectfully request your immediate considera- 

 tion. The decisions have not been reached hastily, and in presenting 

 them for your consideration your Commission begs to state that the 

 proposed changes are supported by our present scientific knowledge 

 of the lobster and have been backed by years of experience in lobster 

 culture and investigations in which your Commission has world-wide 



