NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 
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occupy tide lands, which in most cases are held by the State. To enable him to do 
this legislation is necessary, and the lawmakers at once ask, Wha t shall be the character 
of his tenure and how is it to be acquired? Shall he be granted a leasehold for a 
term of years or shall he be permitted to occupy it in perpetuity, the State retaining 
only the right of taxation and its related powers? Whichever policy be adopted no 
impediments should be unnecessarily introduced in the way of a bona fide planter. 
The returns from oyster-culture are often large, though not exorbitant, but the risks 
are many and disaster not infrequent. Those who undertake the work and thus add 
to the State’s resources should be treated with every consideration to which their 
courage, enterprise, and industry entitle them. 
The tide lauds in most cases are worthless and doubtless will ever remain so for 
purposes other than oyster and sponge culture, and they can be occupied without 
prejudice to any other business whatever. The policy of the State should be to 
encourage their occupation, and in this connection a lesson may be learned from the 
liberal policy which has induced the rapid settlement of our vast agricultural estate. 
The logic of our history would dictate the throwing of the tide lands open for occupa- 
tion, yet in how many States are the laws, and more especially public opinion, practi- 
cally, if not intentionally, prohibitive? A policy far different from that in land above 
tides is supposed to be justifiable in dealing with that portion of the State’s domain 
lying beneath the sea. There is reluctance to part with the tide lands, and it is 
thought preferable to allow them to lie barren rather than to permit individuals to 
acquire permanent possession. There can be no doubt but that the best results are 
to be obtained when the oyster-grower holds his lands in fee simple. Under proper 
management the bottom becomes more favorable the longer it is cultivated. It yearly 
becomes firmer and freer from extraneous organisms and the miscellaneous rubbish 
which accumulates in shore waters, and the man who improves it is the one who should 
reap the benefits. 
It is to the advantage of the State to interest a thrifty class of citizens in the 
subject, and such persons are the very ones who will hold aloof if they are to be sub- 
jected to the frequent possibility, if not probability, of dispossession. Tlie land should 
be granted under the freest possible terms. If revenue be desired it should be derived 
from the subsequent increase in taxable value rather than from sales or rentals. 
The primary function of government is the welfare of its citizens, and, contrary to the 
apparent standpoint of some legislators, taxation is but an incident which the first 
consideration renders necessary. The first cost of the oyster-lands granted by the 
State should belittle more than enough to defray the expenses of survey and registry, 
and not such as would debar tliose of small means from partaking of the benefits. In 
(Connecticut the State lands are sold for $1 per acre and the additional payment of 10 
cents per acre, the estimated cost of surveying and recording, when the tract applied 
for is not, in the opinion of the shellfish commissioners, of an unreasonable extent. 
Under these provisions over 71,000 acres, owned by almost 300 persons and giving 
employment to thousands, were under culture in 1S96, the amount of material depos- 
ited thereon in planting and improving the beds being over 8,000,000 bushels. Other 
States are still more liberal, permitting the occupation of oyster lands under provisions 
practically similar to the United States homestead laws. But Connecticut has so far 
been easily first in the development of oystering in naturally unproductive waters. 
This is largely due to her advantageous geographical position with regard to the mar 
