152 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
three years back he could have purchased at 5 or 10 cents per 
bushel, and five years back would not have had at any price at 
at all. 
I might continue quoting opinions indefinitely with the same 
result, but the decision of the matter is based upon sounder pos- 
tulates than opinions. 
In 1878-79 I made an examination of certain beds of the Chesa- 
peake, and found them to be in a much impaired condition. Com- 
paring my results with the results obtained by himself in 1883, 
Dr. Brooks states that the beds have decreased in value more 
than 39 per cent. This statement is based upon the following 
data: My examination in 1878-9, showed that in Tangier sound 
there was about one oyster to every 2.3 square yards. Dr. Brooks 
after examining the whole of the Maryland beds, states that in 
1883, there was only one oyster to each 4.2 square yards. That 
is, the deterioration equalled nearly 40 per cent. 
In 1876, Mr. Otto Lugger visited most of the Chesapeake beds 
and measured the quantity of shells and oysters obtained by 
dredging. He found 3.7 bushels of oysters for each bushel of 
shells. 
In 1879, I made an examination of seventeen beds and found 
1.9 bushels of oysters for each bushel of shells. A decrease of 
1.8 bushels in three years. 
In 1882, Dr. Brooks found 1.3 bushels to each bushe! of shells, 
a decrease of 0.5 bushels in three years, showing that the deter- 
ioration was continuous. It is quite evident that an increase in 
the number of shells and a decrease in the number of oysters 
obtained at each haul of the dredge, is an indication of impair- 
ment, and combining that indication with the decrease in the 
number to the square yard, as shown by my own and Dr. Brooks’ 
measurements, the impoverishment of the beds is apparent to 
the most superficial observer. But other evidence is not want- 
ing. The principal test of the decrease of a commodity is the 
increase in its price; and it is well known among all oyster 
dealers of this region that oysters have been not only much more 
difficult to obtain, but much more expensive than they were a 
few years back. Fully twice and three times as much are now 
paid per bushel as was customary ten and fifteen years ago. 
