THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 
59 
'been increased one-third by the use of this mud during the 
few years since it began to be generally unde use of.” It is 
• clear, as there is other testimony also to show, that the pro- 
tection of the Oyster must be so managed as to allow of the 
staking of the Mussel-mud by the farmers. 
There are two futures open to the Oyster-industry of 
Acadia; free fishing by the people and a lingering death, or 
vigorous government interference and a great and lasting 
prosperity. This is the kernel of the whole matter — govern- 
iment interference. It has worked well in other countries ; 
it would, under the same conditions, work well in this. The 
duty of the government, if it take charge of it, would be two- 
fold, — to regulate the fishery on the public beds and to give 
encouragement to culture by corporations or individuals. As 
to the first, the position and extent of beds must be determined, 
.and each one given a period of rest, being fished not oftener 
than once in three years; the close season should be vigorously 
enforced; fishermen must, under heavy penalties, return to 
the water all Oysters under a certain size; mud-machines 
must be restricted to certain places in each district, being 
.given ample liberty but not allowed within a certain distance 
of any living bed; mills must not be allowed to discharge 
sawdust into the water within a long distance of a living bed; 
fishing through the ice should be regulated so that refuse 
cannot be allowed to fall on the beds. As to the encourage- 
ment of culture, laws should be enacted which would give to 
a culturist as good a right to his product, and as full protec- 
tion from theft, as has a farmer. Areas in good localities 
should be set aside and leased for long periods, but as a rule 
the public beds should not be trespassed upon. Some beds 
should always be reserved for public fishing; freedom to 
take wild game under common sense conditions, the Dominion 
should be very slow to take from its citizens. Private indivi- 
duals should be encouraged to take their seed-oysters from 
our own beds, as there are none better nor so good for our 
• climate. A measure which might be needful would be the 
.appointment of a commissioner, who should be a man trained 
in the best methods of culture of Europe and the United 
