NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 161 



The committee appointed in pursuance of this resolution was later announced, as 

 follows: Florida, Mr. John G. Huge; Alabama, Maj. A. A. Wiley; Mississippi, Mr. 

 Frank Howard; Louisiana, Prof. H. A. Morgan; Texas, Prof. W. W. Norman. 



In acknowledgment of the telegram from Mr. W. L. May, president of the Amer- 

 ican Fisheries Society, the following resolution was adopted : 



Besolv ect, That the Natioual Fishery Congress now assembled in Tampa, Fla., accepts the greeting 

 and invitation of the American Fisheries Society, and hereby expresses the hope that the purpose and 

 result of this Congress may, with their aid and approval, become an international one in full effect. 



Resolved, further, That the secretary of this Congress transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

 President of the American Fisheries Society. 



A resolution was also adopted providing that in the presentation of papers 

 preference be given to those accompanied by their authors, and another recommending 

 that the proceedings of the Congress be terminated on this date. 



Dr. H. F. Moore, in referring to the resolution relative to the establishment of a 

 biological station on the Gulf coast, called attention to the large prawns found in the 

 waters of Tampa Bay by the Fish Hawk while engaged in experimental trawling, and 

 their prospective importance to the State. 



Col. F. C. Zacharie discussed the resolution relative to fish -commission boards, 

 and asked for information relative to the organization of such boards. He gave 

 notice of the calling of a proposed meeting of the people of Louisiana interested in 

 fishery matters, and announced that later there would be a convention of the Gulf 

 States for the purpose of securing uniform legislation and interstate cooperation. 



Mr. Meehaii referred to the valuable aid rendered the Pennsylvania Fish Commis- 

 sion by fish-protective associations, and the financial assistance given the commission 

 after the failure of the legislature to make any apppropriation for the current year. 



The president then yielded the chair to Hon. E. G. Blackford, vice-president, who 

 spoke briefly on the oyster question, and presented Dr. H. F. Moore, who delivered a 

 paper on " Some factors in the oyster problem." 



Mr. Edward Thompson, shellfish commissioner of New York, spoke on the extent 

 of the oyster-planting business. His remarks, in substance, were as follows: 



The sensible oysterman leaves natural grounds alone. After Mr. Blackford had secured a law to 

 permit the use of barren bottoms in New York, the business increased rapidly. The great importance 

 of liberal laws, the prohibition of poaching, and the taking up of barren grounds should be emphasized. 

 The business is almost certain to be successful. The fifteen-year lease is a failure, as five years may be 

 required to get a set. There should be a perpetual lease. I am a successful grower, and give the 

 credit of it to Mr. Blackford, the gentleman in the chair. The present law ought to give place to 

 the old Blackford law, which is good enough for all. All the members should go home and secure 

 the enactment of liberal planting laws, where none exist. I once got a lease of 200 acres of bottom in 

 Long Island Sound, spending $9,000 in cleaning the grounds, and planted 45,000 bushels of shells and 

 1,500 bushels of large oysters thereon. In a year I sold out my half interest for $30,000 and bought it 

 back in two years for $50,500 at public auction. 



Mr. John G. Ruge, of Apalachicola, Fla., then read a paper on "The oysters and 

 oyster-grounds of Florida." 



In response to an inquiry of Mr. Blackford as to whether any delegate could 

 present information on the subject of raising seed oysters in claires or ponds according 

 to the French system, Colonel Zacharie spoke as follows: 



I know of no such experiment having been tried in the Gulf States or indeed anywhere in this 

 country. I may add, however, that members of the Bayou Cook Fish and Oyster Company have 

 discussed the feasibility of an experiment in that direction on a small scale on their property, as it 



F. C. B. 189711 



