170 THE OYSTER. 



the use of vessels and apparatus is to be assessed and 

 collected; the sums which are to be paid by the asso- 

 ciation for the experience and business standing of 

 captains and other officers ; the way in which fish- 

 ing is to be kept within the capacity of the beds ; the 

 means to be adopted for restoring and improving the 

 beds; the adjustment of the conflicting interests of 

 different localities: all these and many other matters 

 of detail will require close attention, self-sacrifice and 

 careful thought, but I do not believe that the difficul- 

 ties will be found insuperable if an earnest effort is 

 made to work out a plan of co-operative organization. 



The people of the State would rejoice to see such a 

 plan developed and put into successful operation, and 

 no obstacles would be thrown in the way of the oyster- 

 men by outsiders. The only difficulty is the one which 

 comes from human nature. 



The native American is too ambitious, too fond of 

 competition, and too desirous of full scope for his own 

 individual energy and intelligence and business sharp- 

 ness, to take kindly to a co-operative organization ; 

 but the only way to afford a field for these selfish quali- 

 ties is private oyster-culture, and if our natural beds 

 are to be retained as public ground they must be man- 

 aged on a co-operative system. 



No one can say whether such a system would suc- 

 ceed or not, but it is well worth trying for a term of 

 years. If at the end of this period the result were 

 satisfactory, all the people of the State would be proud 



