NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 
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The committee appointed in pursuance of this resolution was later announced, as 
follows: Florida, Mr. John G. Ruge; Alabama, Maj. A. A. Wiley; Mississippi, Mr. 
Frank Howard; Louisiana, Prof. H. A. Morgan; Texas, Prof. W. W. Norman. 
In acknowledgment of the telegram from Mr. W. L. May, president of the Amer- 
ican Fisheries Society, the following resolution was adopted : 
Resolved, That the National Fishery Congress now assembled in Tampa, Fla., accepts the greeting 
and invitation of the American Fisheries Society, and hereby expresses the hope that the purpose and 
result of this Congress may, with their aid and approval, become an international one in full effect. 
Resolved, further, That the secretary of this Congress transmit a copy of this resolution to the 
President of the American Fisheries Society. 
A resolution was also adopted providing that in the presentation of papers 
preference be given to those accompanied by their authors, and another recommending 
that the proceedings of the Congress be terminated on this date. 
Dr. H. F. Moore, in referring to the resolution relative to the establishment of a 
biological station on the Gulf coast, called attention to the large prawns found in the 
waters of Tampa Bay by the Fish HawTc while engaged in experimental trawling, and 
their prospective importance to the State. 
Col. F. C. Zacharie discussed the resolution relative to fish commission boards, 
and asked for information relative to the organization of such boards. He gave 
notice of the calling of a proposed meeting of the people of Louisiana interested in 
fishery matters, and announced that later there would be a convention of the Gulf 
States for the purpose of securing uniform legislation and interstate cooperation. 
Mr. Meehan referred to the valuable aid rendered the Pennsylvania Fish Commis- 
sion by fish-protective associations, and the financial assistance given the commission 
after the failure of the legislature to make any apppropriation for the current year. 
The president then yielded the chair to Hon. E. G. Blackford, vice-president, who 
spoke briefly on the oyster question, and presented Dr. H. F. Moore, who delivered a 
paper on “ Some factors in the oyster problem.” 
Mr. Edward Thompson, shellfish commissioner of New York, spoke on the extent 
of the oyster-planting business. His remarks, in substance, were as follows: 
The sensible oysterman leaves natural grounds alone. After Mr. Blackford had secured a law to 
permit the use of barren bottoms in New York, the business increased rapidly. The great importance 
of liberal laws, the prohibition of poaching, and the taking up of barren grounds should be emphasized. 
The business is almost certain to be successful. The fifteen-year lease is a failure, as five years may be 
required to get a set. There should be a perpetual lease. I am a successful grower, and give the 
credit of it to Mr. Blackford, the gentleman in the chair. The present law ought to give place to 
the old Blackford law, which is good enough for all. All the members should go home and secure 
the enactment of liberal planting laws, where none exist. I once got a lease of 200 acres of bottom in 
Long Island Sohnd, spending $9,000 in cleaning the grounds, and planted 45,000 bushels of shells and 
1,500 bushels of large oysters thereon. In a year I sold out my half interest for $30,000 and bought it 
back in two years for $50,500 at public auction. 
Mr. Jobn G. Ruge, of Apalachicola, Fla., then read a paper on “The oysters and 
oyster- grounds of Florida.” 
In response to an inquiry of Mr. Blackford as to whether any delegate could 
present information on the subject of raising seed oysters in claires or ponds according 
to the French system, Colonel Zacharie spoke as follows : 
I know of no such experiment having been tried in the Gulf States or indeed anywhere in this 
country. I may add, however, that members of the Bayou Cook Fish and Oyster Company have 
discussed the feasibility of an experiment in that direction on a small scale on their property, as it 
F. O. B. 1897—11 
