Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 105 



"I have returned from the oyster-producing States of the Gulf 

 Coast more than ever convinced that the States on the Chesapeake 

 bay must give the oyster question the calmest, widest and broadest 

 consideration if they hope to successfully withstand the competition 

 which they are yearly feeling more keenly. It is not necessary to 

 point out to you that Maryland has already lost trade to Louisiana 

 and Mississippi. There have recently been developments in oyster 

 culture in Texas which will soon make themselves felt in the mar- 

 ket, while Alabama and Mississippi have latent possibilities to which 

 they are just awakening. 



"In Louisiana alone the product has grown from 1,200,000 bush- 

 els in 1902 to 3,600,000 bushels in 1908 under the stimulus of excel- 

 lent laws passed since the former date. The product of the planted 

 beds in 1908 was equal to the entire production of the State in 1902, 

 while the yield of the natural beds, instead of decreasing, as the 

 opponents of oyster culture predict would be the case in Maryland, 

 has actually doubled during the same period. 



"As you well know, my interest in the oyster industry is national. 

 There is room for development in all oyster-producing States, and I 

 do not regard it as necessary for one section to develop at the ex- 

 pense of another. 



"Sincerely yours, 



"H. F. Moore." 



AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO 



THE STATE. 



4. Collection of Rents. 



From the standpoint of the State there is one serious defect in the 

 lav. as originally drafted and enacted whereby it has been found 

 to be impossible to collect the rents due for the use of lots leased 

 from the State for the purpose of oyster culture or to prevent indi- 

 viduals from appropriating and using oyster lands for oyster plant- 

 ing operations without having first leased them from the State. 



It was supposed by the framers and advocates of the oyster cul- 

 ture law that the demand for oyster lots would be so great and the 

 need by oyster planters for the protection afforded by the State 

 would be so pressing that little difficultv would be found in leasing 

 the grounds open for lease or in collecting rents for the use of the 



