60 Report of the Conservation Commission. 



based upon their value after an intelligent appraisal or a small 

 tax per bushel of product should be levied. Both of these meth- 

 ods are in vogue in other States. Rhode Island and Connecticut 

 have adopted the former method, while the latter is found upon 

 the statute books of Maryland and Louisiana. In 1910 the Legis- 

 lature of Connecticut authorized a commission to investigate 

 oyster properties and to present to the Legislature its recommen- 

 dations and proposed legislation for the purpose of carrying them 

 into effect. This work was done in a thorough and exhaustive 

 manner, and the report to the Legislature made by this commis- 

 sion is of particular interest to us by reason of the fact that it rec- 

 ommends the imposition of a tax upon each bushel of product as 

 being the fairest method and suggests that the law taxing oyster 

 franchises be amended : " To provide for a minimum tax of $10 

 per acre for all grants held under such franchises at the present tax 

 of fifteen mills and in addition a productivity tax of two or three 

 cents per bushel upon all seed or other oysters taken from such 

 grants in this State for sale or for the purpose of removal out of 

 the State. The act also should provide for confidential reports by 

 the producers and a proper system of State inspection of same. 

 All to be under the direction and supervision of the Shellfish Com- 

 mission." If our law were amended to provide for an annual tax 

 of two cents per bushel upon all shellfish produced and sold it is 

 believed that a revenue of at least $125,000 could be derived 

 therefrom. All of which should be used and made available for 

 the Bureau of Marine Fisheries for the purpose of affording 

 greater protection to the lands devoted to shellfish culture, the 

 expenses incident to sanitary inspection, and for the maintenance 

 of a marine hatchery and a biological station on Long Island 

 where scientific methods of shellfish culture could be studied. 



With proper tax laws, with proper netting regulations and a sys- 

 tem of equitable net and trap licenses a great increase in the reve- 

 nues and development of the Bureau of Marine Fisheries is pos- 

 sible. 



I herewith append the annual reports of the 'State Fish Cul- 

 turist, the Chief Game Protector and the Superintendent of 

 Marine Fisheries. All of which is respectfully submitted. 



THOMAS IT. GUY. 



Dated December 30, 1911. 



