CHAPTER VII. 



THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL BEDS; AND THE 

 CAUSE OF THE DECLINE OF OUR OYSTER INDUSTRY. 



Every one knows that the condition of the oyster in- 

 dustry gives good reason for great anxiety. In times 

 of hardship it is natural to look for some one to bear 

 the blame, and for a long time our daily papers have 

 been filled with letters from packers, dealers, brokers, 

 dredgers, tongmen and planters, all throwing the re- 

 sponsibility on some one else. The important question 

 is, what can be done to improve matters? Every one 

 knows that there has been ignorance and error and 

 mismanagement in many quarters, but no good can be 

 done by blaming others. 



It is necessary, however, to study the causes of the 

 present state of things, not as an excuse, but as a basis 

 for the intelligent discussion of remedies ; for a little 

 knowledge of the subject will show that no relief can 

 be expected from most of the protection measures 

 which are advocated in the newspaper correspondence. 



If wise measures had been adopted years ago we 

 might have passed gradually to a better state of things 

 without exposing to hardship any one who is engaged 

 in any branch of the industry, but our people have 



