18 First Annual Report of the 



viduals in perpetuity thousands of acres of its most valuable shell 

 fish lands. There are at present held under these so-called fran- 

 chises 15,991.6 acres, while the acreage under lease is 15,336.9, 

 making a total of 31,328.5 acres. Of this total, 2,192.2 acres were 

 added during the past fiscal year, and there are now pending ap- 

 plications covering 1,795.6 acres. These lands are subject to a 

 uniform tax of twenty-five cents an acre. During the year there 

 was collected the sum of $7,417.27, while the total of rentals paid 

 by lands held under lease was $13,166.63. 



The system of triangulation continued during the year covers 

 about thirteen miles between Horton's Point and Orient Point and 

 Plum Island. These surveys will eventually cover the whole of 

 the north shore of Long Island and should be extended to the 

 waters surrounding Fishers Island. There have been sixty-one 

 surveys of individual lots covering 6,992.2 acres. 



Prom the best statistics obtainable the value of the shell fish 

 taken from waters within this State during the past year is 

 upward of $12,000,000, and while no statistics are available con- 

 cerning the value of the migratory food fish output it is safe to 

 assume that it was at least of as great commercial value as the 

 shell fish. So that it must not be lost sight of that the State of 

 New York through the Bureau of Marine Fisheries is dealing with 

 an economic and commercial condition which at present shows an 

 annual output value at from $20,000,000 to $25,000,000 and 

 capable of enormous development under proper legislation, and 

 likewise capable of producing for the State a great increase over 

 the present revenues of the bureau without imposing an unfair 

 burden on those engaged in fisheries as a means of livelihood. 



The great needs in the development of our marine fisheries are 

 a just and equitable system of taxation of shell fish lands ; proper 

 laws to prevent pollution of public waters by sewerage and manu- 

 facturers' waste, and suitable legislation to enable the State to take 

 advantage of modern scientific methods for the propagation and 

 protection of the various marine species. Under the present law 

 a uniform tax of twenty-five cents per acre, upon all shell fish lands 

 within the jurisdiction of the bureau, must be levied, regardless 

 of value. Oyster lands in favored localities and properly culti- 

 vated if available for private ownership are frequently estimated 



