14 
spread out to feed. One of the best informed growers in the 
State, struck an immense bunch a few days ago while hunting 
for them on his grounds, and in a short time gathered in seventy- 
five (75) bushels of stars! By careful hauling he prevented the 
rest from spreading out, and so saved his bed, which, he says, would 
have been cleaned out in four weeks. There is good reason to 
believe, with this gentleman, that by ordinary diligence on the part 
of a// the owners of grounds, the star-fish may be reduced to com- 
paratively harmless numbers. But there must be united effort. If 
one or more owners fail to protect the grounds; if they refuse to 
co-operate with their neighbors to do their share of the work of 
extermination it will be but half accomplished, the pests will 
increase and multiply, and the destruction will continue. Such neg- 
ligence is criminal, and surely deserves severe punishment. The 
farmer, who negligently permits Canada thistles or wild carrots to 
grow undisturbed upon his land, is liable under the statute law to a 
fine. The maxim, ‘‘szc ufere fuo, ut alienum non ledas,” lies at the 
foundation of this law. And it applies with equal force to the culti- 
vation of lands under water. Persons owning these lands and plant- 
ing them with oysters should be compelled to keep them clear, as 
much as possible, from all noxious pests. Just how this may be 
done it is not easy at present to show; neither the Commissioners, 
nor, so far as they are advised, the oyster growers themselves, have 
anything but vague and incomplete views on the subject. Doubtless 
a better knowledge of the habits of the star-fish will in time point 
the way to effective legislation. Meantime it should be earnestly 
impressed upon every one engaged in the business, that not only his 
own self-interest, but his duty to his neighbor, calls for increasing 
warfare against these five-fingered thieves. 
The Commissioners are credibly informed that the coot (Fulica 
atra), which frequent the waters of the Sound in great numbers, 
feed upon the star-fish, As many as twenty small stars have been 
found in one crop. Now, if further examination and inquiry should 
confirm this fact, inasmuch as these birds are of little or no value for 
food, it may be wise to forbid their destruction at certain seasons, so 
that their numbers may be increased for the benefit of the oyster 
beds. 
The drill or borer kills but few in deep waters. The drum-fish and 
periwinkle get away with only a trifling percentage of the crop. A 
great many of the latter are caught by the dredges, and vast num- 
bers are killed in the egg. 
