Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 127 
thought, that the Oyster industry of Maryland, when properly 
fostered through practical legislation, will become one of the 
best and surest resources of the State. 
It should be remembered that the enemies of oysters, such 
as Star Fish, which destroy large quantities in the waters of 
certain other States, exist to a very small extent in the Chesa- 
peake Bay and tributaries; and the further fact should not be 
forgotten, that oysters in Maryland waters will BY TAT NN 
size in about three-fifths of the time required for their eaieth 
in Northern Waters. ae x . 
For the purpose of permanently establishing the boundaries 
of the Natural Oyster Bars within the waters of the State, as 
well as of putting into effect the operations of ‘ques ain 
Oyster Culture Act, the Legislatures of 1906 and 1908, have 
appropriated the aggregate sum of $127,200. Of this sum 
about $11,000 remains in the treasury of the Commission at 
the close of field work for the season of 1909, in addition to 
permanent fixtures and equipments of the estimated value of 
$12,000. It will he seen, therefore, that the approximate cost 
of the work as so far accomplished, represents an expenditure 
of $104,200. From this outlay there has already acerued to 
the State a net revenue of $15,578.82, representing the re- 
eeipts from Application, Reeording, Survey and Rent fees, 
less the actual costs of collecting the same. 
In another year the survey of the remaining waters of the 
State will have been fully completed, and the consequent out- 
lay incident to this important work will have been checked. 
Tt is then confidently believed, especially if the amendments to 
the present Oyster Culture Law, as hereinbefore proposed, are 
adopted by the General Assembly of 1910, that an annual rev- 
enue greatly In excess of expenditures necessary to the execu- 
tion of the law, and gradually increasing as the policy of 
Oyster Culture becomes fixed in the State, will be assured to 
the State in return for its original investment above indicated. 
A foundation will thus be laid for an oyster industry far 
greater than that which has existed heretofore in this State, 
and such a result can be accomplished also without injury 
either to the natural bars, or to the farms. ect 
There can be no reasonable doubt that a substantial net rev- 
enue can be realized for the State from rentals which can be 
fairly demanded for the use of its valuable oyster lands, and 
it is the earnest trust of the Commission that an enlightened 
public sentiment which finally chrystalized in the enactment 
