THE OYSTER. 1 97 



If all our oyster area were divided up into private 

 holdings, the whole could be watched and its condition 

 and capacity much more carefully and exactly ascer- 

 .tained, than can ever be the case under State manage- 

 ment, and an enlightened system of private cultivation 

 would be the most sure safeguard against the exhaus- 

 tion of the beds. 



The first step, the survey of all the beds and the 

 construction of accurate maps, would employ a large 

 and well equipped force for several years. After all 

 the beds are mapped, a large force will still be needed 

 to make the annual examinations, and to obtain the 

 data which are needed to determine how many oysters 

 each bed can yield without injury. 



The enactment and enforcement of the necessary 

 laws would even then present many difficult and com- 

 plicated problems, but if our public beds could be 

 placed for a term of years under the supervision of an 

 officer or a commission to study the subject, and to 

 superintend and direct the survey and examination, 

 and to develop a plan for protection ; and if compe-' 

 tent persons could be found to devote themselves to 

 this work; and if an efficient navy, under the com- 

 mand of trained officers, could be employed to act 

 under their supervision and direction, a practical and 

 efficient plan could no doubt be devised and put into 

 execution. Possibly the same thing could be accom- 

 plished by an organized co-operative company of 

 oystermen. 



