CHAPTER VII. 



THE REMEDY. 



Looked at as a question in natural history, the oys- 

 ter problem is very simple. The demand has outgrown 

 the natural supply, but it is easy to increase the supply 

 indefinitely by oyster culture, and this is all that is 

 needed. 



As a practical question it is anything but simple. 

 It demands the best thoughts of all who are interested 

 in the welfare of our people. The practical applica- 

 tion of the remedy is proper work for statesmen of the 

 greatest ability and widest experience, rather than for a 

 naturalist who knows little or nothing of complicated 

 social questions. 



The interests at stake are so important and vast that 

 they are worthy the best efforts of the best intellects 

 in our community, and any statesman who wishes to 

 devote himself to the unselfish, disinterested service of 

 the people will find in the complications of the oys- 

 ter problem an ample field for the exercise of all his 

 powers. 



So many divergent and conflicting interests are 

 involved, and so many side issues are to be con- 

 sidered, that hasty, ill-advised action is sure to do 

 more harm than good ; yet we have permitted matters 

 to run on so long without attention, that little time now 

 remains for deliberation or experiment. 



