Conservation Commission. 101 



crease. The State of Maine has benefited by the same experience, 

 so that in six years the catch of lobsters has increased 100 per 

 cent., the returns of 1910 being 9,360,000 pounds., and valued at 

 $2,145,000. 



In our own State the propagation of tom-cod has increased 

 the catch fully 150 per cent, within the last iive years, and the 

 propagation of flat-fish and flounders has lowered the price from 

 ten or twelve cents to two and three cents in the wholesale market. 



That our marine fisheries furnish abundant and wholesome 

 sport to a great army of hook and line fishermen and that our 

 professional market fishermen furnish the hardiest mariners and 

 the nucleus for our mercantile and national marine service ought 

 not to be overlooked. 



It is practically impossible to furnish an accurate statement as 

 to the value of the product of these fisheries in our State, for the 

 reason that those engaged in the shellfisheries have not been obliged 

 by law to furnish accurate statistical information, while those en- 

 gaged in the marine fisheries, i. e., the catching of marine fish and 

 lobsters, are not required to and do not make any statement as to 

 the value of these latter fisheries, and a request for such statistical 

 information made to the fishermen brings forth either unreliable 

 or misleading figures, or, generally, none. 



While the catch of oysters, clams and scallops has shown a 

 steady annual decrease, competent judges estimate its value last 

 year at from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000. Such information as 

 can be secured indicates that the value of the catch of our marine 

 food fishes is at least as great as that of our shellfisheries. The 

 delivery of 700,000 pounds of blue, weak, flat and butter-fish, bass 

 and porgies, at Fulton market, this city, from September 10th to 

 15th (five days) is an indication of the volume of the business. 



It must, of course, be admitted that conditions for the propa- 

 gation of shellfish in our marine waters are not as favorable as 

 they are in the waters of some States, especially those to the south 

 of us and of Europe. The oyster beds of the Gulf and Atlantic 

 coast south of Cape Hatteras are laved by the currents of the Gulf 

 stream, and receive, therefore, not only abundant food material, 

 but, what is of equal importance, waters of an even and favorable 

 temperature. The Gulf stream, however, leaves our coast at 

 Cape Hatteras and, crossing the Atlantic, strikes the western coast 



