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“ First. An oyster bank will yield permanently the greatest 
“ profit if it possesses snch a stock of full grown oysters as 
“ will be sufficient to maintain the fecundity of the bank in 
“ accordance with its bioconotic conditions. 
“ Secondly. When the natural conditions will admit of it, 
“ the yielding capacity of an oyster bed may be increased by 
“ improving and enlarging the ground for the reception of the , 
“ young brood. The natural banks should be improved by 
“ removing the weeds and plants with dredges and properly 
“ constructed harrows, and by scattering the shells of oysters 
“ and other mussels over the bottom. When circumstances 
“ will permit, all the animals which are taken in the dredge, 
“ and which kill the oysters or use up their food, should be 
“ destroyed. It would be much more judicious and much 
“ better for those who eat oysters if the ‘ close time ’ could be 
“ extended until the 15th of September or the 1st of October, 
“ so as to allow the oysters some time after the expulsion of 
“ the contents of the generative organs to become fat before 
“ being brought to the table. If it is desired that the oyster 
“ banks should remain of general advantage to the public and 
“ a permanent source of profit to the inhabitants of the coast, 
“the number of oysters taken from the beds yearly must not. 
“ depend upon the demands of the consumers or be governed 
“ by high price, but must be regulated solely and entirely 
“ by the amount of increase upon the beds. The preservation 
“ of the oyster beds is as much a question of statesmanship as. 
“ the preservation of forests.” 
