FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 301 



done to cultivate or encourage a new growth or set. A State, formerly the 

 very first in shellfish production, by adhering to the free bay theory, now 

 produces but one bushel to every twenty bushels produced twenty years 

 ago. A modified leasing system has been recently adopted there. The 

 only advantage to be observed in such localities, where every one reaps and 

 no one sows or cultivates, is that the lands have not passed from State con- 

 trol and that there still remains the opportunity to amend when such amend- 

 ment may be permitted by public sentiment. New York is not altogether 

 without the free bay sentiment, and as a concession to that interest, lands 

 which are supposed to produce oysters naturally are by law excluded from 

 the leasing system. It is doubtful whether much land of this character 

 remains, as the exhaustive methods of the free bay oysterman soon lead to 

 barrenness. 



What is left of natural growth land has no doubt been preserved by 

 reason of the operations upon the leased or granted beds of the oyster planter ; 

 the spawn and milt from the planted beds are carried by currents and tides 

 over all surrounding areas, free and leased lands like, so giving in some 

 degree new life to what otherwise would be exhausted grounds. It will thus 

 appear that the free bay element, usually antagonistic to the planter, is to 

 a great extent dependent upon those who cultivate definite areas. The 

 free bay oysterman usually is without capital, following his business in a 

 desultory fashion, working when he feels like it, when the tide serves, or 

 when he has no steady job at other employment. There are two important 

 objects to be considered in planning a system: 



1 . A large and ever-increasing production. 



2. A reasonable return of revenue to the State for privileges enjoyed. 

 Neither of these desirable features are or can be attained under the 



free bay plan. A growing population demands an increasing food supply, 

 and every effort should be made to produce an abundance, of shellfish. A 

 large production means a nutritious and appetizing item of food supply 

 for the millions. It means employment for thousands of men and incident- 

 ally much business for builders of boats and for transportation lines. In 

 all the seaboard States advance is being made in attaining freedom from the 

 old unwise and wasteful methods in which an utter disregard for a future 

 supply was shown, and when the free bay element can be educated to the 



