The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-07-09

liarly grateful and often useful. 1t has
repeatedly and unjustly been called curse,
but those who have written most Of its
banefu effects, as a rule, have never
used it.
For The State Chronicle.
You that Have Mouths and Ears--Open
Both. And say--O-yes-ter this!
The stagnant condition of manufactures
and trade in the Eastern counties of North
Carolina is a deplorable but not to be dis
puted fact. Any plan tending to quicken
the industrial growth of that section
should receive careful attention and, if
found practicable, should have all the en-
couragement possible. 1t is, therefore,
with pleasure that We notice among the
Resolutions of the last General Assembly,
on p $50, one with regard to the Oyster
Industry
The important items of this resolution
| are that the State Board Of Agriculture
shall cause to be made a survey to locate
the positions and outline, the areas of the
natural oyster beds and private oyster or
chards, and shall also have an examina-
| ton made of the waters Of the State, at
present totally unproductive and worth
less in this respect, with reference to
| their possibilities for the culture of shell
! fish. The Governor is requested to ask
the Federal Government to detail an eX-
! pert IN these matters, to make the neceS-
sary surveys anC examination.
The question of oyster culture in our
State is not entirely new one. The De
/ partmcnt of Fish and Fisheries has pub
lished various articles and reports. Lieut..
Francis Winslow delivered an exhaustive
address upon the subject before the Fish
4 ID-1
! ing the progress of the State Exposition
last October. This is published in the last
Biennial report of the Commissioner of
Fish and Fisheries. Lieut. Winslow for
cibly illustrates the magnitude of the oys-
ter industry. He dilateS upon the facts
that by far the great bulk of the market
supply of oysters is derived from the
Chesapeake Bav, but that owing to the
destructive policies pursued by Maryland
and Virginia, their oyster beds are rapidly
deterorating. With the destruction Of
this source of supply new fields of produc-
ton must be sought for; and why not as
well in the waters of North Carolina as
elsewhere! The present production OF
drap in the bucket in comparison with the
present rate of consumption in the United
States, and are our waters to become large
| oyster producing areas: the bottoms must
be cultivated into productivity. Careful
cultivation by proper methods has every
where, abroad and i'll this country, enOr
mously increased the production and de
veloped large industries in otherwise mae
tive regions.
Prior to 1865 Rhode Island's oyster crol
was derived almost solely from the nat
ural beds. Under the influence of beneh
cial laws, she is able to contrast the ex
LII Il.
yielding II 900 bushels with the condition
in 1888 when she had II 900 acres under
cultivation, yielding over 1000, 900 bush
els.
The development Of large oyster in
dustry in the Eastern section of our State
would be of incalculable benefit to tha
region. What are at present totally bar
ren and reproductive bottoms would be
come saleable and valuable lands. Thou
sands of men would find employment
towns would spring up with ice-house
and canning establishments with all tho
consequent benefits to natives of the re
gion. The railroad lines which are at pres
ent languishing from the industrial stag
nation in our Eastern counties would b
directly and indirectly benefited and sucl
an industry would do much to raise then
into prosperous condition.
These prospects should, therefore, no
be overlooked and neglected. Let US a
least ascertain what they are. By actin:
upon the directions of this Resolution W
can secure, through the Federal Govern
, ment, the services of skilled expert am
complete survey and examination of ou
, beds can be obtained at slight cost
After this is done we shall know how goo
a field and just what kind of a one, on
, waters offer for the establishment of thi
t industry, and We can then proceed t
5 work with clear knowledge of the cor
, ditions. DIX.