154 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
any noticeable extent. In fact, the environment has remained 
exactly as it has always been—with one exception. Continuous 
and exhaustive fishery has sprung up with all its attendant evils. 
To that and to that alone is the condition of the bedsdue. The 
prophecy so often made is at last coming true. The demand has 
outgrown the supply and in the effort towards equalization the 
beds, the source of wealth, are fast becoming a total sacrifice. 
All the facts, all the opinions, all the evidence, was before the 
legislatures of the two States, and they did nothing beyond 
building a few more police boats. The influence of the oyster 
men was too strong to be overcome. They either would not or 
could not submit to any restriction of their privileges, and the 
influence so strong in the present is not likely to be diminished 
in the future, unless it is shown that it is for the best interest of 
the fishermen that a change of policy, radical and entire, is abso 
lutely necessary for the preservation of the industry. 
Look at the facts. The natural beds in the Chesapeake like 
the natural beds in the Northern States, are no longer capable 
of returning an adequate supply. What has been done to rem- 
edy the evil? An increase of the police-force! In other words, a 
more perfect restriction of the fishery—a more extensive dimin- 
uition of the supply. Surely, that is not what we want! Wedo 
not care to have a valuable food product diminished. That is 
no real remedy. What should be done is to follow the course of 
the Northern States and endeavor, by artificial means, to culti- 
vate the oyster and increase the prodvttctive area and supply. 
I ask you but to look at the charts of the oyster beds exhibited 
in the fisheries, section and you will see a marked difference be- 
tween the region north and south of the old Mason and Dixon 
line. In the northern portion the preponderance of the artificial 
over the natural beds is as marked as the reverse in the south- 
ern portion. Years ago the natural beds of Long: Island Sound 
returned a sufficient supply to satisfy the demands of the consum- 
ers. Gradually those demands increased and with them the dis- 
position towards the inordinate fishing of the beds. The natural 
consequence followed. The beds were over worked, became 
depleted, were exhausted. But the demand still existed and had 
to be satisfied. New beds were created; new methods intro- 
