REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXXIII 



we consider how recently was the French coast so depleted that for the first experi- 

 ments in cultivation the oysters were actually purchased from other countries. 



Natural difficulties have caused the French to study division of labor in the indus- 

 try; to make, for example, one locality furnish the seed, another to raise the oyster 

 to maturity, a third to llavor or color it, aud sometimes even a fourth to jjrepare it 

 for transportation. 



Under these conditions the growth of the industry has been especially and almost 

 entirely dependent upon the wise action of the Government. The reservation of 

 the natural grounds as state property aud the forbidding of general public dredging 

 is generally regarded as the keystone of French oyster-culture. These grounds, once 

 exhausted, now nourishing, are regarded as the permanent capital of surrounding 

 areas, whose profits in the form of seed oysters are shared by all alike. 



In view of our present needs, what ia the most important lesson we are to draw 

 from the studies of the French oyster-culture? The most practical, certainly, seems 

 the action of the Governmeut in reserving oyster-bearing tracts for the purpose of 

 furnishing seed. This prudent restriction has been the safeguard of the entire 

 French industry. Our oyster-grounds are becoming exhausted solely by the enor- 

 mous drain upon their resources. In general their conditions for culture are as 

 rich as ever. The oysterman has sent to market practically all of his oysters and 

 expects the beds on his neighbor's ground to furnish him with seed. Too often, how- 

 ever, the neighbor has been e(i[ually thrifty and has marketed all of his product. 

 The following year both are astonished at the poorness of the set, attributing it to 

 colduess and rain, but they never think that the deficiency might have been caused 

 by the want of a quantity of neighboring oysters sufficient to furnish the spat. 

 Nor is one to blame for not preserving his oysters to furuish seed for everybody. 

 French political economy has assigned to Goverumeut the duty of reserving oyster- 

 bearing tracts for the common good, and the Governmeut has studied where these 

 might most judiciously be located so as to profit all alike. The tracts need not be 

 large and would not be of great expense to the state, at any rate as an experiment 

 in a single locality. The grounds would practically take care of themselves; their 

 only expense would be that of a guariliau. 



If an experimental oyster tract in oue locality should prove eminently successful 

 to neighboring seed-culture, a more geueial legislative action in different States 

 might reasouably follow. The matter would certainly be most heartily seconded by 

 the oystermen themselves. We should not expect seed to be abundant where oysters 

 are lacking. Aud our industry may, for many years to come, demand nothing more 

 pertinent to its welfare than State spawning-grounds near centers of oyster-culture. 



With regard to the production of seed oysters in the United States 

 on some such principle as has been followed by the French, the main 

 question is whether it would pay, in view of the higher price of labor 

 in this country. While not expressing a positive opinion in the matter, 

 Dr. Dean is not inclined to answer the question in the negative, and 

 in respect to this subject he presents many facts which are deserving 

 of careful consideration. 



THE SPANISH MACKEREL, SCOMBEKOMORUS MACULATUS. 



The experiments relative to the hatching of this species, together 

 with the study of its life-history and habits, begun on June 14, 1801, 

 were continued until July 31. The results obtained during the former 

 month have been referred to in the last annual report. The work was 

 conducted in the neighborhood of Cape Charles City, Va., on board the 

 steamer Fish Eawk^ Lieut. Robert Plutt, U. S. Navy, commanding, the 



