The Gulf of Mexico 265 



There is already a much greater demand than can be 

 met by the local supply. Louisiana oysters are favor- 

 ably known as far north as Chicago, and a great market 

 is waiting in the Mississippi valley, north and south. 

 Even with present transportation facilities, New Orleans 

 might readily obtain a large part of the Pacific trade in 

 eastern oysters, if the Gulf were made to produce them. 



Little definite information exists concerning the oyster 

 territory or the oyster industry before the year 1898. In 

 that year the state legislature requested the U. S. Bureau 

 of Fisheries to examine the oyster field. This was done, 

 and in 1902 a state Oyster Commission was created. 

 This has since been given powers that have made it the 

 most effective body of its kind in the country. 



Its members receive adequate salaries, and give their 

 entire attention to the work of building up the oyster in- 

 dustry. It has been made a department of the state gov- 

 ernment. It has authority to sue, and may be sued. It 

 may buy, sell, or lease property, enact contracts, and do 

 anything necessary to enforce the oyster laws. It adopts 

 by-laws for its own government and that of its em- 

 ployees. It enlarges and cares for natural beds, and 

 protects lessees of private oyster grounds. It determines 

 the limits of natural beds, and may use its own discre- 

 tion in allowing the use of dredges on them. Its acts 

 are subject to review by the courts. It has police power, 

 and has organized an extremely efficient force. It has 

 been granted large appropriations. Practically all of its 

 recommendations have been acted on promptly by the 

 legislature. In short, that body has had the great wis- 

 dom to place the entire management of the industry in the 

 hands of a few competent men, and to hold them re- 

 sponsible for its success. 



