: THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 391 
THE CULTIVATION OF OYSTERS. 
With the present abundance and the low prices of oysters in Texas, 
the necessity and facilities for their cultivation are not fully appreci- 
ated. On account of the regularity with which a “set” is obtained 
on the natural beds every year, there is not that urgent necessity for 
a system of private oyster-culture that exists in some of the Middle 
States. However, the policy of increasing the supply of oysters by 
permitting and encouraging the private ownership of suitable grounds 
for their growth is very properly being considered. Not only the mem- 
bers of the State legislature but the oystermen have advanced ideas 
on this subject. 
The first oyster law operative in this State was enacted on March 8, 
1879, with the following title: ““An act for the preservation of oysters 
and oyster beds, and for protecting the rights of persons to the same, 
and affixing penalties.” This bill provided for public and private 
grounds. All natural oyster beds in navigable waters were made pub- 
lic. All grounds, whether with or without oysters, in waters not navi- 
gable were made the exclusive property of the owners of the adjoining 
shores; and riparian owners were given control of all within 100 yards 
of low-water mark. Of the remaining grounds every person was given 
the right to preémpt without revenue to the State an area not exceed- 
ing 200 yards square (84 acres), and no provision was made for return 
of the ground to the State. The taking of oysters from such preémpted 
grounds or other private areas without permission of the owner was 
made a theft, punishable in accordance with the prevailing law for 
such crimes. 
To persons acquainted with the jealousy with which the States bor- 
dering the Atlantic coast preserve their waters suitable for oyster- 
culture this may seem a very generous policy; but it is on a par with 
the same liberal spirit which this State has maintained for the settle- 
ment of her idle agricultural lands, which has resulted in such great 
prosperity. While one or two provisions of this law do not seem to be 
the best possible, the substance of the enactment is excellent; and had 
it continued operative, with an additional provision for systematic sur- 
veys and the return of the preémpted ground to the State if not used 
after a certain term of years for the purposes proposed in the act, it 
would have provided for a steady and satisfactory growth of oyster 
cultivation. But as the natural beds continued to produce an abundant 
supply of oysters, few persons took advantage of the liberal provisions 
of this enactment, although it continued operative until 1887. 
In the meantime much information was made public concerning what 
had been accomplished in oyster-culture in some of the Atlantic coast 
States, particularly in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island; and. 
these reports, together with local factors, were influential in persuad- 
ing the legislature in 1887 to pass another oyster bill, the provisions of 
which required the preémptor to be an ‘ actual bona-fide citizen” of the 
