NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 287 



of oysters oil the grounds ami the law regarding the taking of undersized oysters be 

 strictly enforced. Oystermen as a rule pay little attention to the laws that affect 

 them so materially, but it is noticeable that the more enlightened men of larger inter- 

 ests, as, for example, the can 11 era, arc much in favor of having proper laws and having 

 them enforced. The fact of such intelligent men being anxious for the enforcement of 

 the laws seems a strong argument in favor of such enforcement. 



All that has been said applies to the natural beds. Oyster cultivation has become 

 a great industry in the Northern and Central States, and is now beginning to extend 

 to the Southern coasts. Florida has been far behindhand in this industry, but it is 

 hoped that the great importance of it can be proved to those interested, and that in 

 the near future Florida shall have her share of the great sums brought into the State 

 treasuries of some of the States from taxes alone, not to mention the advantages 

 accruing to individuals. The United States Fish Commission has already done much 

 to encourage the cultivation of oysters in Florida. The section of the coast about 

 Apalachicola Bay was surveyed, as already mentioned, and a chart showing the 

 exact delineations of the natural beds and the areas of good planting-grounds made. 

 By means of this chart any person of average intelligence can locate himself on the 

 best ground possible for planting. Having such knowledge, a mere scattering over 

 the bottom of shell to form a cultch to which the spat may attach itself, with the 

 necessary overhauling from time to time, would result in profitable beds. Or, again, 

 seed may be taken from the best natural beds, as it is known that the beds differ very 

 materially. In connection with the cultivation of oysters the United States Fish 

 Commission's Manual 1 on the subject will furnish the best possible suggestions, and 

 all those new to the business will do well to study it. 



All natural conditions are favorable to the planter, and as for the seed, as already 

 mentioned, the beds vary greatly even in the same locality, but there are beds all along 

 the coast where the oysters are of the very best quality and compare favorably with 

 the finest-flavored oysters of the most famous d stricts on the Atlantic seaboard. 



The one great impediment to oyster cultivation in Florida is that the laws 

 protecting planters are not enforced. There are instances where men have been 

 obliged to give up the work of cultivation on account of the lack of protection. 

 The laws are perhaps sufficient, but it is imperative that they be enforced. First of 

 all, the oystermen must be brought to a realization of the fact that the protection of 

 oyster cultivation does not in any way infringe upon their rights, and that on the 

 contrary it is directly for their best interests. All have equal rights and any man 

 having sufficient thrift and energy may without doubt better his condition by under- 

 taking the cultivation of oysters and uniting with others to respect the laws. The 

 moral sentiment among oystermeii is not in favor of protection, and this is due 

 principally to their misunderstanding the subject. The law makes a distinction 

 between cultivated beds and natural beds and relates wholly to the cultivated beds, 

 but oystermen think that any protection given to the planters is of the nature of a 

 monopoly and is an encroachment on their rights. Of course such is not the case, 

 as the laws protecting planters do not in any way interfere with oystering as now 

 carried on on the natural beds. All the oyster cultivation would be carried on away 

 from the natural beds, and in some cases in localities entirely remote from them. 

 WASHINGTON, D. C. 



1 Oysters and Methods of Oyster-Culture. By H. F. Moore. Report U. S. Fish Commission for 

 1897, pp. 263-340. 



