FOREST. FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 29 



More land and water privileges have been acquired at the Bath 

 hatchery and the condition there is much improved. 



Artesian wells have been sunk ildspring, and a large flow of pure 



water acquired at little expense for that hatchery. 



With a very small increased appropriation the Bemus Point hatchery 



at Chautauqua Lake could be made to care for and rear a large number of 



trout of various kinds, in addition to the maskalonge work now carried on 



at that station. This is very desirable and should be provided for. Reports 



a all our hatchery foremen are made part of this report and furnish an 



aunt of the work at each station. 



£i)eUfisl) 



Mr. B. Frank Wood, the Superintendent of Shellfisheries, has made to 

 this Department a very comprehensive report of his work in that branch of 

 the service during the calendar year of 1906. which is submitted herewith 

 and forms a part of this report. 



Because of the small prices received at the advertised sales for land to 

 oyster planters, leasing has been discontinued. The large interests of 

 oyster planters are constantly increasing and the total value of the product 



reached about Si 0,000,000 a year, but in no way does the use of the 

 land pay an adequate or reasonable return to the State. For that reason, 

 in ray last report I recommended the passage of a la.w establishing a system 



mitary inspection of the product and taxation of the property interests 

 grown up under the liberal policy of the State in leasing lands at nominal 

 prices for this purpose. There is no reason why the revenues from the 

 " e's property should not at least pay the expenses of the Shellfish Depart- 

 ment and also some reasonable amount to the State in the way of an annual 

 revenue. Therefore, I again recommend that a law be enacted to carry 

 out the intentions and purposes expressed in the proposed bill of a year ago 

 along the lines of sanitation and taxation, and that the Shellfish Department 

 be reorganized and made adequate to carry out the provisions and enforce 

 the law when placed upon the statute books. 



