THE OYSTER. 1 95 



were in shallow water. The bay must have contained 

 enough oysters to furnish spat, and as no new beds 

 have grown up in shallow water, we are forced to con- 

 clude that, even when spawn is present, a period of a 

 hundred years is not enough to restore a bed which has 

 been completely destroyed. 



The adoption by the State, of a plan to close certain 

 districts long enough for the beds to recover, would, 

 undoubtedly, delay the work of extermination, but it 

 would also cause an immediate decrease in the supply. 



I believe that if our present policy is continued, 

 measures of this kind must be adopted, but such an 

 expedient can have only a temporary value, as it will 

 do nothing in itself to enlarge our oyster area, or to 

 increase the productiveness of our waters. 



I believe that the districting plan is neither a real 

 remedy nor the best method for arresting the destruc- 

 tion. It is the best which can be put into force without 

 delay, but while recommending it, I feel that it is my 

 duty to call attention to the fact that there is a still 

 better method, although it is one which would require 

 considerable time and the expenditure of large sums 

 of money. 



Under natural conditions each bed is able to yield a 

 certain number of oysters each year, and whenever 

 this number is exceeded the bed suffers, and if the 

 practice is continued it must be destroyed. It makes 

 no difference whether the oysters are taken in one 

 month or in twelve, or in one year or in five. The 

 ultimate effect upon the bed is the same in all cases. 



In the absence of measures for artificially increasing 

 the productiveness of the oyster grounds, or even when 



