NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 303 



profits of the day and care not for the future, although if they did but know it they 

 are more vitally and immediately interested than all others in the prevention of tin* 

 ruin of the fisheries. In pursuance of this resolution the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion steamer Fixh Hawk will, we are informed, immediately on the adjournment of this 

 Congress proceed to make the investigation requested, and will report thereon to the 

 next general assembly of the State, which meets in May of this year. Without tres- 

 passing on or unduly anticipating the recommendations which will then be made, we 

 venture to suggest consideration of the following points: 



(1) The establishment by the State of a fishery commission to protect and regulate 

 more effectively the oyster fisheries as well as the fin fish, both salt and fresh. 



(2) The establishment of a station by the United States Fish Commission on the 

 Louisiana Gulf coast convenient to New Orleans as a distributing- point for the (iulf 

 and interior States. 



(3) The closure for several years of those natural reefs and beds which are now 

 on the point of exhaustion. 



(4) A prolongation of the ordinary close season from April 1 to October 1, as it 

 has been shown that this interval of time is used for spawning, which is not confined 

 to May, June, July, and August, as heretofore thought. During the six months of close 

 season suggested the sale of oysters of any kind should be prohibited, whether from 

 private beds or public reefs. Dealers, common carriers, and others should be punished 

 for transporting or dealing in them during the close season, the same as under our 

 game laws. The present law allows the sale from private beds, although ordinances 

 of the city of New Orleans prohibit the sale of oysters of any description from May 1 to 

 September 1 of every year. The allowance of sales from private beds during the closed 

 season opens the door wide to indiscriminate selling and renders the law inoperative 

 and incapable of execution. 



(5) Persons found with uncalled oysters in their possession in any other place 

 than on the banks should be severely punished. 



(6) Every incentive and inducement should be held out by legislation to encour- 

 age the culture of the oyster and the use of natural reefs should be confined, as far 

 as possible, to supplying seed, to be planted and improved by cultivation. To that end 

 liberal sales and leases for terms of years should be granted on the public lands and 

 waters suitable for oyster culture. Riparian proprietors should be given and granted 

 the right to plant and cultivate oysters to a certain distance on their water front and 

 other means should be resorted to, in order to offer inducements and accord liberal 

 treatment to capital to develop this enormously valuable industry, which has as yet 

 hardly been touched. 



Perhaps obstructions to improvement are always-to be expected from the ignorant. 

 In New Jersey, where such extended closure of seed beds was similarly opposed (as 

 it was in France and other countries), the commissioners tell us "all the opposition 

 ottered at the outset of this proposed system of protection has now disappeared, and 

 those who were loudest in their protestations have acknowledged their unfounded 

 prejudice and error. All of the seeding-grounds of Delaware Bay enjoy a rest of 9 

 months each year. As a result the beds have increased in area and new beds are 

 continually forming, and the supply is increasing to a wonderful extent." If the 

 legislature of Louisiana will follow the wise example of those older communities and 



