118 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 
second, those who were in favor of the law but who were not 
sufficiently familiar with the conditions essential to the suc- 
cess of oyster culture to be able to decide between the positions 
taken by their colleagues and by the Commission. 
Some of the members of the first class gave no other 
reason for their opposition to the amendments recommended 
by the Commission than that by adopting them the success of 
the measure would be assured. 
The reasons given by those of the second class are: 
Ist. - That the law after two years trial has failed to pro- 
duce the revenue promised for good roads. 
2nd. That there ig no apparent demand from practical 
oyster planters for the changes recommended by the Com- 
mission. 
3rd. That some of the amendments if adopted wouild seem 
to provide a condition under which dishonest lessees of bar- 
pe bottoms may dredge on the natural bars near their leased 
ots. 
Replying to these objections it may be said that two years 
is a period much too short in which to expect an undeveloped 
industry to yield a large revenue even under conditions most 
favorable to its growth. At the time the Legislature of 1908 
was in session the barren bottoms of one county only, Anne 
Arundel, had been thrown open for lease and it will be at 
least four years from that date before the entire area avail- 
able for oyster culture within the State will have been opened 
for lease. Until all of the bottoms suitable for oyster eul- 
ture in all of the tide-water counties of the State have been 
thus opened it will be too soon to condemn the law as un- 
productive of revenue. An obstacle in the way of the rapid 
development of an industry in oyster culture, even greater 
than the defects in the law which the Commission is seeking 
to have removed, is the absence of a fixed policy on the part’ 
of the State with reference to the industry. Neither labor 
nor capital are willing to invest in an enterprise which is 
likely to suffer from adverse legislation. 
Should the State deliberately refuse to perfect its laws on 
the ground that it is unable to protect itself against criminals 
(the idea contained in the objection last enumerated), it would 
forfeit the respect of the civilized world. Thoughtful law- 
abiding citizens of Maryland cannot possibly entertain and — 
be guided in their action by such an objection. The number 
of men who will take out leases for lots for the purpose of 
