70 SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
annual supply of spat mainly from mature oysters spawn- 
ing in the rivers and creeks inthe neighborhood. A glance 
at the map of the Connecticut coast will show that every 
known natural bed now in existence there is in the neigh- 
borhood of some river or creek, where oysters are grown; 
and whose currents flow towards and pass over the bed; 
so that in spawning time the spat is carried out and left 
upon the bed in great abundance. It is probable, too, 
that inaccessible places among the rocks contain beds of 
oysters that yield quantities of spat which also serve to 
enrich the natural beds. If the natural beds are left un- 
disturbed for a long time, slime settles upon them and the 
spat will not adhere. It is often the case that one end of 
a natural bed will have a good set while the other adjacent 
end catches none. This may be attributed sometimes to 
changes of currents that turn away the spat; but oftener 
it is due to the slimy condition of the cultch on that end of 
the bed that fails. Sometimes with the most careful 
preparation an artificial bed will fail of a set; or one end 
will fail and another succeed; but no one can tell why. 
When the deep-water grounds are all made into oyster- 
beds, the waters in spawning time will be so full of spawn 
that a failure to catch a set will be rare. In fact, already 
some of the deep-water growers claim that their depend- 
ence on natural beds for spat or seed becomes less every 
year, and that the time rapidly approaches when all the 
beds will be self-supporting. 
The natural beds are by law public property, and are 
free to all. As has already been stated, many natural beds 
found in years past have been quickly exhausted in the 
general scramble for their treasures. Reckless fishing 
seems to have destroyed public beds in all countries. In 
France, England, and Scotland, beds which were seemingly 
inexhaustible have in a few years become worthless. The 
boundless beds of the Chesapeake are beginning to show 
sions of depletion from over-working. Large natural beds 
in New Jersey and in New York vanished in the same way, 
and it is the concurrent testimony of all familiar with the 
subject that unrestrained fishing on public beds will in 
time work their destruction. 
