CONCLUSIONS. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



The Maryland Oyster Survey is probably the most extensive and complete work 

 of its kind. And for that reason many of the conclusions resulting from experience 

 gained in that work might be of public interest. But in harmony with the plan 

 of this publication only those will be given which are thought to be of special value 

 for use in connection with the consideration of future surveys of similar character. 



The primary object of an oyster survey from a national point of view is to 

 conserve and increase the national supply of food. And before this can be done 

 intelligently and economically it is evident that an inventory (or a survey as it is 

 more commonly called) of the oyster resources under investigation must be made and 

 recorded on charts and in other forms. (XXIII, LIV.) 1 



As distinguished from a national point of view, the object of an oyster survey 

 of a particular State or locality naturally partakes more of the character of a desire 

 to develop the wealth of that State or locality by increasing its oyster industries or 

 by revenues obtained from the leasing of the land underneath its oyster-producing 

 waters. And like the Government, it is evident that a State can not accomplish 

 these objects intelligently and economically without first having a survey made of its 

 oyster resources. (XLIII, XLVII1.) 1 



Considered from both these points of view, the cooperation of the General 

 Government with a State government appears to be not only a legitimate and an 

 economical arrangement, but also the best method of conducting an oyster survey. 



REQUIREMENTS OF AN OYSTER SURVEY. 



From the Government standpoint, the chief requirements of an oyster survey 

 appear to be: 



First. The representation on charts of the bottoms of the oyster-producing 

 waters in such a manner as to show not only the limits of the natural growth of 

 oysters as to locality and quantity, but also such other related information about 

 these areas and the contiguous bottoms as will best indicate their value for the 

 purpose of oyster culture. (XXIII, XLIX, LIV.) 1 



Second. A more detail description of the oyster bottoms than can be shown by 

 symbols on the charts, and such other information as to the saltness of the water, the 

 quantity and quality of the oyster food in the water, currents, tides, surrounding 

 sanitary conditions, character of bottom, etc., as affect the growth and value of 

 oysters. (X, XXXV, XLI, XLIX.Y 



Third. The carrying on of the oyster survey in such a manner that whenever it 

 is economical to do so the results of certain parts of the surveying operations made 

 necessary by the requirements of the oyster survey can be utilized as a geographic 



1 See " References," p. 19. 

 16 



