20 FOURTH REPORT OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
borhoods the waters teemed with them. Such multitudes had not 
been seen for many years. It is believed, however, that they will not 
be so abundant again for some years to come. Still, a constant war 
must be maintained against them, even in ordinary seasons. 
In reply to the question put by the Commissioners, Where do 
they most abound? the answers were various; but a fair deduction 
from them shows that they are found at all seasons of the year in all 
salt waters of the Sound; that they remain on the natural beds and 
other grounds where the young seed oysters are as long as they find 
food abundant, and then they attack the neighboring cultivated beds. 
They are quiet in July and August, when they form into large 
bunches or rolls for spawning. They are most destructive in the fall, 
winter and early spring months. They are rarely found on mud bot- 
toms; they seem to prefer hard clay or rocky bottoms, and they 
gather about the headlands and on lines running off from the head- 
lands into the Sound. The depth of the water seems to make no dif- 
ference to them. Many insist that it is on natural beds where they 
most abound; others, with equal positiveness, say that they are no 
more abundantthere than elsewhere. As efforts are continually made . 
by cultivators to keep their own grounds clear, and as no such efforts 
are made on the natural beds, it would not be strange if they were 
abundant there. It is also asserted that they breed on neglected 
grounds, of which there are many hundred acres scattered among cul- 
tivated beds. ‘They also breed among inaccessible reefs and rocks, 
and when large enough begin their depredations upon the nearest 
beds. 
In reply to the Commissioners’ question, What would you recom- 
mend that the State should do towards their extermination? the 
answers were various. ‘The principal ones were in substance: 
‘*The State should pay a bounty on every bushel caught on the 
natural beds.” ‘Steamers should be permitted to dredge on the public 
beds where the stars abound the most, especially in breeding time.” 
“ The time is not far off when the oystermen will reduce them so that 
they will be little trouble, especially when they get the grounds all 
planted; but cannot see clearly how the State can do anything with- 
out heavy expense, which will finally come back on the oystermen 
again in the way of taxes.” ‘‘ Let every man keep a good look out 
for his own grounds; as fastas they gather work on them and clean 
them out, and let the State clean the natural beds, and all will be 
well.” ‘‘ Enforce the law against throwing the stars back into the 
water when oncecaught.” ‘‘ Let the steamers dredge for oysters on the 
