OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 21 
the great work of the Commission is another. The State passed 
the tax law and made it one of the duties of the Commission to 
execute it. If it is a vicious law, change it; but it cannot be 
changed by attacking the Commissioners. Wipe the Commis- 
sioners out, and the law yet stands and must be enforced. Re- 
peal the law, and it takes from the Commissioners only a small 
part of their duties, and that the most disagreeable part. 
The promoter of this movement has 10,o00 acres and upwards 
of oyster ground, With his two steamers he cannot cultivate 
thoroughly more than 500 acres. If he attempts more, he cannot 
keep it clean from stars. This he has attempted, and he has suf- 
fered, perhaps, like the rest. If his broad acres were divided up 
and held by other parties who would be glad to cultivate them, 
they would pay a higher tax to the State; and what is of equally 
great importance, would not be, as they now are, beds for unlim- 
ited star breeding. 
It is this failure to cultivate large holdings that makes this tax 
seem so burdensome to owners. Let them sell off some of these 
good grounds that they hold for speculative purposes, and they 
will have more money and not feel the trifling tax the State lays 
on them. 
This tax, as we have seen, averages about eleven cents an acre 
through the State. Is there any land above water in the State 
taxed so low as this? Now, if oyster ground is worth holding at 
all, if it is worth cultivating at all by these dissatisfied holders, 
surely eleven cents an acre can add nothing worth considering to 
the burden of cultivation. A dozen good oysters would pay the 
tax on each acre. 
The truth is, many of the oystermen have extended their busi- 
ness too much, They have shelled hundreds of acres where 
they should have shelled only tens of acres. The result is that 
the shells catch the star spawn as readily as the oyster spawn. 
The planter, not having the means to destroy the stars, lets them 
grow side by side with the oysters, and when they get big enough 
they eat the helpless oysters up. Hence it is that the stars have 
become so numerous and destructive; and this will continue as 
long as more shells are laid down than can be taken care of. 
The oystermen must give up their notions of large crops growing 
without labor or care. They must confine themselves to areas 
which they can manage and protect. We could name men who 
have pursued this wise policy, and they have made money 
