THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 163 
special obligation of this Association is to utter a word of warn- 
ing to this country that unless something is done very soon, a 
portion, at least, of the oyster grounds in some of our States will 
be as worthless as some of those of the European countries have 
already become. And it appears to me that we ought to put 
forth some official utterance in the matter, which shall be quoted 
in legislative houses as the deliberate opinion of this body of 
men, which includes all who have given any attention to the sub- 
ject of fish-culture. I therefore move that a committee be ap- 
pointed by the president of the Association to report before the 
close of the session, some resolution which shall express the 
opinion of the Society as to the necessity of protecting our oys- 
ter-fisheries by legislation by artificial propagation, and by all 
other possible means. 
Mr. BLacKForp: I second the motion, and believe this matter 
to be one of the most important that could come before this 
meeting. Iam of the opinion that such a resolution, going out 
at this time from the Association, would havea great effect upon 
the action of the State legislatures, some of which are now con- 
sidering the propriety of taking some measures for the protec- 
tion of the oyster industry—especially New York. 
The PresipENT: It is moved and seconded that a committee 
be appointed by the president, to report as soon as possible, as to 
what steps shall be taken by this Association to warn the differ- 
ent States in regard to the oyster depletion. I will appoint for 
that committee, Messrs. Goode, Winslow and Ryder. 
