128 THE OYSTER. 



bottoms which are covered with water at low tide and 

 are not within any harbor line, to be used as a 

 private oyster fishery for the planting and cultiva- 

 tion of oysters, whether these lands contain natural 

 beds or not ; and efficient laws were enacted for the 

 protection of private rights. 



The effect of this measure has been good in every 

 respect. The revenue of the State has been greatly 

 increased, and it is stated that the rentals of the beds 

 will in time pay all the expenses of the State govern- 

 ment. 



In 1865 oysters sold for $i.J^ per solid gallon; in 

 1878 the price was ;^I.I5 to ;^i.io, and in 1879 it had 

 fallen to 90@95 cents. 



In 1865 the product of the State was 71,894 bushels, 

 while in 1879 it was 660,500 bushels. 



The. area which was used for planting in 1879 was 

 only 962 acres, yet this area paid ;^6582.90 into the 

 State treasury; it employed a capital of over ;^ 1,000,- 

 000 ; it paid ^125,000 in wages to the people of the 

 State; it furnished the market with 660,500 bushels 0/ 

 oysters, with ;^68o,500 to the producers, and it gave 

 support to 2400 persons. 



Until 1883 the Rhode Island grounds had been 

 used only for planting, and most of the seed oysters 

 were purchased from other States, yet the planted 

 oysters sold for three or four times the cost of the 

 seed, and it is doubtful whether there is any farming 

 land in the United States which yields as great a profit 

 to the acre as the bottoms which are used for oyster- 

 planting in Rhode Island. 



Our little revenue to the State treasury of about 



