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The main cause, as I have said, was decided to be excessive 
fishery, which, by removing too large a number of mature 
brood oysters, diminished in a constantly increasing ratio the 
fecundity of the bed. Other causes operated also to some ex- 
tent, but their effects were inconsiderable. 
There is but one method of maintaining the fecundity of 
the beds, and that is by protection, but this protection can be 
afforded in several ways : Either by restricting the fishery, by 
enlarging the field for the dredgers, or by insuring the matur- 
ity of a larger number of oysters, by artificially impregnating 
the ova of the female and protecting the resultant embryos 
during those periods when they were unable to protect them- 
selves. 
To afford protection and maintain the fecundity of the bed 
in the last mentioned manner has been attempted by Dr. W. 
K. Brooks, and his efforts have been in a measure successful. 
The ova has been impregnated, and the life of the resultant 
embryos has been maintained for varying periods, the maxi- 
mum being six days. 
Whether this success will be of practical benefit remains a 
matter of conjecture, and should it prove practicable to thus 
assist nature in maintaining the beds at their greatest produc- 
tiveness, it will require extended experiments before we can 
feel assured that the protection afforded in this manner will 
be sufficient. To confirm the opinion as to the deterioration 
of the beds, and to show the best method of protecting them 
in the two remaining ways has been the endeavor of the party 
under my command, and to that result have our efforts been 
directed. 
In the absence of positive and correct information as to the 
life and habits of the oyster, all legislation relating to their 
protection must be to a great extent inoperative and non-pro- 
ductive of the desired results, and until such information has 
been obtained the best and easiest remedy for the deteriora- 
tion would be an extension of the known fishing ground ; in 
other words, the discovery of new and well stocked beds, as 
the number of dredgers being, at least for a few years, con- 
stant, they will naturally seek the most profitable field for 
