54 JOTJKNAL OF THE MiTCHELL SoCIETY \^Octol>er 



sliellfisli industry can be directly traced to tlie work of this As- 

 sociation. 



With the passage of adequate laws regulating the fishing of 

 the oyster, and its cultivation, problems immediately come up 

 that must be considered and solved, such as : 



"What are natural rocks ? 



What areas shall be open for cultivation of the oyster ? 



Shall such areas be leased or sold ? 



How much area shall each individual be permitted to take up ? 



How shall the oyster bottoms be taxed ? 



What regulation shall be made in regard to the production 

 and shipment of seed oysters ? 



What measures shall the State take to protect the beds that 

 are being cultivated ; for the protection of the natural rock ? 



Pollution of oyster rocks and its prevention. 



Eifect of dumping all waste material into our harbors and 

 bays which may result in the pollution of oyster rocks and clam 

 beds, or may cover the oyster rock and thus smother the oysters. 



Shall the areas of the natural rock be mapped or the areas 

 that are leased or sold for cultivation ? 



Uniform seasons for catching oysters in adjoining states. 



The solution of these problems is now being taken up by the 

 various states and also the Federal Government; and they are 

 slowly but surely being solved, and we believe in the interest of 

 the shellfish industries. 



As can readily be seen from these problems, it will be abso- 

 lutely impossible to solve them unless it is done by the states 

 as state propositions. The problems vary in the diiferent states 

 and in some that relating to the oyster has been almost entirely 

 solved, but there still remains a great deal to be done in con- 

 nection with the perpetuation of other forms of shellfish. The 

 necessary measures that are required to better the various shell- 

 fish industries will be accomplished just so fast as we are able 

 to educate those who make a livelihood out of these industries, 

 as to the need of conservation; bring the rest of the people of 

 that particular state to a realization that they too have a decided 

 personal interest in the conservation of these industries; and 



