26 
of oyster culture shared this belief but were willing to con- 
cede the point for the sake of getting a survey. As the earlier 
results of the survey began to be made public it was evident 
that the belief in the shrinking of the beds was more than 
justified by the facts. The utmost publicity was given these 
earlier results and the figures showed the most startling con- 
traction of the bars in comparison with earlier surveys and 
set forth in plain terms the fact that certain well-known bars 
were about to-.be wiped off the oyster-producing map. That 
these were not misstatements of the facts, but the actual pres- 
entation of existing conditions, was fairly well demonstrated 
by the fact that the oystermen filed practically no protests 
when the charts opening these territories to lease were placed 
on file. 
Then came something which neither side had counted upon, 
a phenomenal catch of spat and the rehabilitation of the de- 
pleted areas. Left to themselves, the leaders of the oyster- 
men might have been sufficiently good sports to stand to their 
bargain, even though it had turned against them, but the 
oystermen themselves had never really understood the bargain 
which had been made for them and even if they had under- 
stood it felt in no way bound by it. They therefore began to 
object when they saw the ground on which they had been 
oystering in recent years enclosed within the stakes of private 
owners. Some of the protests thus raised were illustrations 
of the world-old complaint against the attempt of the State 
to split up the common for holdings in severalty. Others 
frankly rested upon the fact that the complainants had not 
kept sufficiently close track of events to enable them to get 
in their applications for the best territory, which had conse- 
quently been taken by those whom they felt were less entitled 
to it than themselves. Others rested upon a belief that the 
spirit, if not the letter of the law, had been violated. Others 
still were fostered and inspired by more or less sincere lead- 
ers, who saw in the movement a chance to further their polit- 
ical or other fortunes. 
Legally, the protestants were without a leg to stand upon. 
The State had deliberately, with their knowledge and con- 
sent, by legislative flat, fixed certain areas as permanently 
