226 THE OYSTER. 



So far as they are planters upon private grounds, 

 their greatest need is protection in their rights and 

 encouragement to invest their time and money in the 

 extension of the planting business. As soon as the 

 first condition of success, respect for private property, 

 has been secured, the planting industry will grow 

 rapidly, and I have already devoted considerable 

 space (pp. 125-140) to the discussion of improved 

 methods. 



Success in planting requires security in the tenure 

 of bottoms to be used for the purpose, and I believe 

 that the following provisions for the growth of the 

 industry should be made by the State : 



Any owner of land the lines of which extend under 

 the navigable waters of the State, should have the ex- 

 clusive right to use the bottom within the lines for 

 oyster culture ; the owners of any land bordering on 

 any landlocked water should have the exclusive right 

 to use it for oyster culture above the line where it first 

 ceases to be one hundred yards wide at low water ; 

 any one who shall construct an artificial pond for the 

 culture of oysters on any land of which he is the 

 owner, shall own the pond and its contents ; any 

 owner of land in which there may be any landlocked 

 water which might be converted into a pond for the cul- 

 tivation of oysters without injury to navigation, should 

 be permitted to construct dams or gates in order to 

 convert it into an oyster-pond, and should have the ex- 

 clusive right to cultivate oysters upon its bottom. In 

 addition to these provisions, any riparian owner should 

 be permitted to purchase from the State, at a nominal 

 price, the right to cultivate oysters upon the bottoms 



