FISHEKIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 461 



while it is forbidden to take oysters south of the ''line" except from 

 September 1 to June 15, both inclusive, of each year. Except on the 

 natural beds south of the "line," no oysters can be taken on ground 

 not leased of the State. The seed beds are located north of the "line," 

 while the market oysters are to be found south of it. One of the best 

 features of the law is the pi'ovision requiring- that all oysters taken on 

 the natural beds shall be immediatel}^ culled, and all shells and other 

 material except 03'sters at once thrown back upon the beds. 



Jn 1902 this law, with slight variations, was extended to the Key- 

 port region in Monmouth County. 



On March 26, 1902, a special act relating solely to Ocean County 

 went into effect. This act is similar in many respects to the Delaware 

 Bay law. One notable exception is in the setting apart of a portion 

 of the grounds to be known and held as public clam-grounds. Leases 

 are to be granted for terms not exceeding ten years, at an annual rental 

 of not less than 50 cents nor more than $3 per acre or fraction thereof, 

 for the first 10 acres leased, and not less than $1 per acre for each addi- 

 tional acre or fraction thereof. Persons having ground staked out at 

 the time the law went into effect have first claim on such grounds. 

 Leases are restricted to actual residents of the State. Persons who 

 engage in the business pay a 3'early license fee of $2.50. Oystering 

 on natural beds is restricted to the period between October 1 and 

 April 30, while all oysters are to be immediately culled and the shells 

 and refuse thrown back upon the bed from which taken. In 1902 a 

 similar law went into effect in Atlantic County. 



The greater part of the grounds suitable for oyster cultivation are 

 now under the direct supervision of commissions authorized b}- the 

 legislature, and beneficial results should soon be apparent through the 

 protection given to the planters in their efforts at cultivating oysters. 

 The authoritative surveying and mapping of the leased grounds in the 

 various sections of the State is progressing rapidly and efficiently. 



During the year ending October 31, 1901, the New Jersej' State 

 Oyster Commission distributed upon the natural beds of the State, 

 exclusive of Delaware Bay, 62,335 bushels of shells. This is done to 

 replenish the natural beds, which are the principal sources of supply 

 of seed oysters for the planted beds. There is no published record of 

 the quantity distributed in the bay. 



One of the most serious problems confronting the o^^ster planter is 

 the securing of enough seed oysters each year to keep the planted 

 beds up to their full capacity. As the natural beds of the State do 

 not furnish oysters enough for this purpose it is necessary for the 

 planters to buy seed from other States. For many j'^ears nearly all 

 the seed oysters planted, in addition to those taken from the natural 

 beds, have come from Virginia. It is estimated that the oysters pur- 

 chased from that State have averaged in late years about $450,000 in 

 value. On February 16, 1901, a Virginia law forbidding the export 



