460 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The following table shows the quantity and value of sturgeon, 

 including caviar, taken in New Jersey in various years since 1890: 



Oysters. — Since the last general canvass of this State a number of 

 changes have occurred in the oyster industry. For man}^ years the 

 planters had been striving earnestly for State control of the industry, 

 and in 1899 success crowned their efforts so far as the Delaware Bay 

 was concerned. Under the provisions of an act passed in that year, 

 "all oyster grounds, lands, and beds included within lands of the State 

 of New Jerse}' under the tidal waters of the Delaware Bay and Maurice 

 River Cove" are placed under the exclusive control of a State 03\ster 

 commission, composed of three members, to be appointed by the gov- 

 ernor, all of whom should be directly interested or engaged in the 

 oyster business in this region. The commission is authorized to 

 appoint an oyster superintendent, who has immediate supervision of 

 the industiy and attends to the enforcement of the law. 



The law further authorizes the commission to lease to "applicants 

 therefor any of the lands of the State under the tidal waters of the 

 Delaware Bay and Maurice River Cove south of the line running 

 direct from the mouth of Straight Creek to Cross Ledge light-house, 

 and commonly known as the ' southwest line,' " to be used for the 

 taking, planting, and cultivating of oysters. The granting of leases 

 to nonresidents is forbidden, except in cases where such persons 

 already held ground at the time the law went into effect. Leases are 

 granted for terms not exceeding thirt}^ years, at an annual rental of 

 not less than 25 cents per acre or fraction thereof. Persons having 

 ground or grounds staked up at the time the law went into effect are 

 entitled to have lease or leases for such granted to them in preference 

 to others upon making written application to the commission within 

 a certain time after the act took effect. Leases are to be renewed to 

 the original lessee at the end of each term should he care to continue 

 the business. Penalties are provided for persons robbing such beds. 

 All the natural oyster beds of the bay are exempt from lease. 



All vessels and boats engaged in the industry are requiivd to pay a 

 license fee of not exceeding $2 per ton on the tonnage measurement, 

 and these licenses are to remain in force for one year from the time of 

 issuance. All vessels and boats must be wholly owned by citizens and 

 actual residents of the State. 



The law further provides that no oysters shall be taken north of the 

 said "southwest line" except from April 1 to June 15 of each year, 



