14 
for planting, and it is as much for the interest of the one class as of 
the other that the beds should be protected and perpetuated. It has 
been suggested that for a small consideration one or more steamers 
might be employed, as occasion may require, to go over the beds 
with dredges adapted to catch only stars. If this should be done 
under the supervision of the Commissioners, it is believed that no 
reasonable objection to it could be made by any one, and all parties 
interested would be greatly benefited. Immense areas of cultivated 
ground surround the natural beds, which are the property of the 
State, and the State is bound to so manage them that they shall not 
become breeding grounds for nomadic nuisances—so destructive to 
private property. 
Various mechanical devices for the extermination of star-fish have 
been tried; among the best may be mentioned that invented by 
Messrs. Lancraft & Homan, of Fair Haven, in this State. Their 
contrivance is a modification of the common oyster dredge, with a 
light front bar fitted with teeth like a rake, the net being set about 
six inches behind this bar and a few inches higher than when used to 
gather oysters. Its efficiency is due to the fact that when the dredge 
passes over the bed its teeth stir up the star-fish and oysters together, 
but the oysters fall back upon the bed, while the star-fish, being 
lighter, rise above the oysters, and the current immediately drifts 
them into the bag. There is good reason to believe that the success 
of this contrivance is assured. Lighter dredges can also be made for 
the use of the sailing vessels. 
One would suppose that these star dredges might be kept out con- 
tinuously and so catch a mess whenever the boat is in motion, whether 
working its oyster dredges or otherwise employed. If this is practi- 
cable, there would be such a continual destruction that extermination 
must follow in a very short time. 
Allusion has been made to Rhode Island cultivators. A glance at 
the oyster industry of that State will prove interesting and encourag- 
ing. For the last twenty-two years the land in that State has been 
rented by the State to oyster-growers. The uniform increase of the 
business will be seen in the following statement of the rents paid the 
State since 1863 : 
1863, - - = = = = - = - $60 00 
1864, - = = = S = = 2 = 61 00 
1865, - - - - - - - > = 737 72 
1866, - - - - - - - - - 661 27 
1867, = = - = = - - = = | 1,563 50 
