Conditions in the Northern Field 195 



Other states have followed the example of Con- 

 necticut in this. Even Maryland has recently had the 

 courage to do so, and if the decisions of its Oyster Com- 

 missioners in establishing boundary lines are upheld by 

 the state courts, much future trouble will be avoided. 



The amount of land that may be owned or leased by 

 an individual or corporation in the state is now not lim- 

 ited by law. The ancient fear of an oyster monopoly 

 seems to have disappeared. Titles to oyster grounds 

 may be transferred. If grounds are found by experi- 

 ment to be unsuitable for oyster culture, they may be re- 

 leased to the state. Speculating with oyster grounds is 

 made illegal, and such a practice is difficult, for grounds 

 not occupied in good faith for the planting or cultivation 

 of oysters, may revert to the state at the end of five 

 years. 



A perpetual franchise for the cultivation of oysters on 

 barren ground may be had from the state at one dollar 

 an acre. It has not been the plan in Connecticut to re- 

 ceive a large revenue from the sale of land, but rather 

 to vest the great wealth of the industry with the citizens. 

 In this way taxable property on shore is greatly in- 

 creased, and a small tax also is levied on the oyster beds. 

 In order to determine the amount of this tax, owners 

 must make an annual statement of the value of their 

 property, and the Oyster Commissioners declare a tax of 

 one and a half per cent, on the valuation given. Some 

 revenue also is derived from licenses granted to boats 

 which, with thirty-pound dredges and tongs, are allowed 

 to take oysters from the natural beds. This direct rev- 

 enue, however, amounts to comparatively little. The ac- 

 cepted view of the situation seems to be that a five 

 million dollar business in the state is a better investment 



