196 THE OYSTER. 



such measures are employed, the only way to effectu- 

 ally protect a bed is to examine it each year, and to 

 learn how many oysters it can furnish without injury, 

 and to take such steps as may be necessary for pre- 

 venting each bed from being drawn upon in excess of 

 its capacity. 



When the natural beds are small and few in number 

 it is easy to do this, and the plan has been employed 

 in some parts of our own country, and also in many 

 parts of Europe, where a few guard-boats are enough 

 to protect the beds, and to learn how many oysters are 

 taken from each one. 



The waters of Maryland cover nearly one-third of 

 the whole area of the State, and as oyster-beds are 

 found in nearly all our waters, there are very great 

 practical difficulties ; and the attempt to learn how 

 many oysters are taken, and how many should be taken 

 from each bed, demands great executive ability and a 

 large and well-trained and equipped force. Our pre- 

 sent Fishery Force is totally incompetent to under- 

 take such a work, and no force could do it efficiently 

 without devoting much time to organization and to pre- 

 liminary work. 



The restriction of the crop according to the capacity 

 of the bed is absolutely necessary, if our beds are to 

 remain public property, and it must be brought about 

 in one way or another. 



The result can be reached by a system of intelligent 

 private cultivation upon grounds held for the purpose 

 upon long leases, or deeded outright by the State; for 

 personal interest is the strongest motive which can 

 exist to prevent the needless destruction of property. 



