14 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



ing the shellfish upon its unleased territory which is open for 

 free public use. 



Grants to be Nontransferable. These grants, while de- 

 signed for the use of all citizens of the Commonwealth, should 

 be made especially available for the poor man with little capi- 

 tal. In order to assure the poor man of the enjoyment of his 

 privilege, it is necessary to guard against the possibility of un- 

 due monopolization. Leases must, therefore, be strictly non- 

 transferable. Neither should areas be rented to another indi- 

 vidual under any consideration whatever. Every grant must 

 be for the benefit of its individual owner. He should be at 

 liberty to hire laborers to assist him in working his grant, but 

 not to transfer it in any way. Any attempt on his part to do 

 so should not only immediately result in the forfeiture of his 

 grant, but should also subject him to a heavy penalty. 



Survey. In order to guard against confusion and to main- 

 tain an orderly system, an accurate survey of all granted areas 

 should be made. The ranges of every grant should be deter- 

 mined and recorded. The plots should be numbered and prop- 

 erly staked or buoyed, and a record of the same, giving the 

 name of the owner, yearly rental and value, should be kept on 

 file at the proper town and State offices. The same system 

 which is now in operation in the oyster industry of other 

 States should be applied to all the mollusk fisheries of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Administration. The department of the State government 

 under whose jurisdiction this system of leases may come should 

 be indued with full authority, properly defined, to supervise 

 the grants, furnish them with adequate protection by the em- 

 ployment of State or town police, oversee the survey, allot the 

 grants, and to exercise such other powers as may be necessary 

 to develop the system, remedy its defects and strengthen its 

 efficiency. 



Protection of Property and of the Rights granted by the 

 Lease. No system of shellfish grants is possible without ab- 

 solute protection. The lessee must be permitted to cultivate 

 his grant free from outside interference, and thus, with reason- 

 ably good fortune, he can enjoy the fruits of his labors. This 

 protection, which is the greatest and most vital need of the 



