THE OYSTER. 171 



of our oystermen, and it could then be renewed for 

 another term, or forever, as seemed best. 



If the organization should break down or fail 

 through internal dissension or personal ambition or 

 conflict of interests, no great harm would be done, for 

 the system of private culture could then be tried. 



Some of the oystermen will assert that they have no 

 money to invest in the improvement of the beds, and 

 that the State ought to help them out ; that what little 

 capital they had has been lost in the last few years, 

 and that, in order to be successful, the fishery would 

 require so much restriction for the next two or three 

 years that there would be no profits, and only a very 

 scanty living. Unfortunately, this is true, but it will 

 be true under any system, and at present things are 

 growing worse with no prospect of improvement, 

 while under intelligent co-operation they would im- 

 prove rapidly after the first two years. The oyster- 

 men complain that they have no capital to bridge over 

 this gap, but they will have to get over it somehow, in 

 any case. At present they cannot borrow, for they 

 have no prospect of better times ahead. 



If, however, the community were convinced that the 

 organization could be relied upon to develop and im- 

 prove the property intrusted to it, there would be no 

 difficulty in raising the necessary capital, and the 

 amount which is now paid by the State for licenses 

 would go a long way towards the improvement of the 

 beds. 



The only plan for the management of the oyster- 



