CIVIC PROBLEMS RELATING TO MOLLUSKS 273 



AMOUNT AND VALUE OF MOLLUSCAN PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES l 



The most instructive factor in such problems is likely to 

 be the causes that work to depress actual below possible 

 resources. Here we shall find ignorance of values, lack of 

 knowledge as to life history of forms and hence of practical 

 means for development, and, above all, in any development 

 of aquatic resources, the old, uncivic spirit of piracy, handed 

 down from the times of natural oyster beds, which still holds 

 that anything whatsoever under water belongs to the one 

 who can get it. " Oh yes, this is a fine location for oysters, 

 and J did go to considerable expense and planted a lot, but 



1 Statistics furnished by the United States Bureau of Fisheries for 1908. 

 At present the Bureau cannot supply any estimates of possible yields. Fill 

 out the table and keep it up to date as figures become available. Make a 

 similar table of actual and possible yields for local waters. 



2 Dr. Field's estimate of value of sea mussels produced in 1915. 



3 Dr. Field's estimate of possible value of sea mussels produced in any 

 one year. 



