PEOTECTION" OF FKESH-WATEK MUSSELS. 9 



replenishment may be hastened and a greater result gained in a 

 shorter time. We have to contemplate that the beds that may be 

 closed will have to be reopened after a definite period, for the fisher- 

 men can not afford to work indefinitely on restricted and depleted 

 areas, and the supply of available shells must be maintained. A 

 proper solution as fair as possible to all will be found in a plan 

 of rotation which will give rest periods to the different portions of 

 a river in succassion. Let this measure be supplemented as far as 

 may be by Government or State propagation of mussels in the resting 

 regions. 



It is apparent that artificial propagation and protection are inti- 

 mately related. Eestrictive measures alone will yield benefits, but 

 these will be greater if the protection is followed up by well-directed 

 propagation. Artificial propagation pursued independently may be 

 expected to bring results, but the advantages will be considerably 

 diminished if no steps are taken to lessen the unnecessary destruc- 

 tion of the young mussels thus given a start upon life. 



PROTECTION. 

 ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION. 



Although at least 20 States participate directly in the mussel fish- 

 ery for the shell trade, only 2 or 3 of these have taken any action 

 of any kind for the protection of the resources. In some others 

 measures have been proposed at various times, but without receiving 

 favorable consideration by the legislative bodies. Indeed, it is prob- 

 ably well that this is the case, in view of the fact that there has been 

 no general presentation of the case from all sides to aid in a just 

 consideration of the matter. The Bureau is prompted to make this 

 report in the hope that suggestions based upon a long-continued 

 investigation of the shelling industry in all its phases may be of 

 material aid to the responsible bodies concerned in the determination 

 of how best to perpetuate the mussel resources, giviiig due regard to 

 the local conditions involved. 



Any legislation to be most effective must fulfill certain general con- 

 ditions. It must be based upon just consideration of the welfare of 

 all classes legitimately interested in the business, including shellers, 

 buyers, manufacturers, and the public generally. This is important 

 not only because fairness demands it but because it is manifestly 

 impracticable to enforce a law which is framed in disregard of 

 economic requirements. A law that makes possible the creation of 

 a monopoly, or one that drives the buyers and manufacturers from 

 the territory, or that sacrifices the good of the industry to revenue 

 production to the State, would be so manifestly unsound that further 

 comment seems unnecessary. 



