Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-06-11
THE OYSTER PROBLEM.
This FavOrite Bivalve Is Nearly Extinct
in tho baltimore Beds.

This Favorite EivaIve L. Nearly Extinct
in tho baltimore Beds.
The evident and alarming decrease Of
the yield of the oyster beds OF Chesa-
peake Bay, recently emphasized by the
removal by nineteen oyster packing
firms of the whole or a part OF their
plant to other localities, led to an i'm
portant meeting Of parties interested
in the subject in Baltimore recently.
Prof. Brooks, twelve years ago.
warned the State authorities that the
determination of the oyster by injurious
methods Of fishing and lack Of suitable
protection was eminent. The small
yield of 3,0O0,0 900 bushels of oysters in
1890 as compared with the output of
1000, 600 bushels in 1875 is sufficient
evidence of the soundness of Prof
Brooks prediction.
In the course of the addresses it was
shown that the oyster industry of Chesa-
peake Bay involves an outlay, for wages,
labels, boxes and transportation, of
about So, 900, 900 annually, this not in
GLIDING the cost of the oysters. 1t is
safe to assume that the value Of the
oysters, together with the cost of put
ting them on the market, will represent
sum not less than $4,50O,0 900 to 49,
600, 900.
Prof. Brooks estimates that since the
establishment of tho oyster packing in
dustry fully 400, 900, 900 bushels of oys-
ters have been taken from the waters Of
Chesapeake Bay. This magnificent re-
source, however, is threatened with
complete destruction unless speedy
measures be taken to arrest the decline
and foster the growth of the Industry.
The Professor further states that in
other countries, where the grounds are
much less valuable, they have by Gull
tivation been made to produce oysters
at o rate per acre which in our superior
waters would bring the annual yield far
above the entire harvest so far gathered
BY the packers Of Maryland and Vir-
| ginia.
There was perfect agreement among
the parties interested in the Chesapeake
oyster as to the need Of prompt action,
and this agreement found expression in
q series of resolutions calling attention
to the threatened destruction of the
oyster beds under the present con.
ditions, with tho consequent throwing
out OF employment of thousands Of
workmen, and a greater injury to the
people of Maryland engaged in allied
industries. This threatened extinction
is charged to the want OF Legislative en-
| enlargement of artificial propagation,
and stress is laid upon the necessity Of
selling or leasing to individuals certain
portions of the beds, for the experiment
Of oyster rearing. The desirability OF
State supervision of oyster grounds has
teen demonstrated in North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia, as we'll as
/ in Massachusetts aud New York, and
particularly in Connecticut, where the
natural beds are reserved for public
use, but oil other waters capable of o.
ducing oysters are sold to individuals,
whose vested rights are amply protect
cd and hence enjoyed without moles-
tation. As ali illustration of the prac-
tical working of this plan it is stated
that the oyster crop has quadrupled in
Connecticut the last decade.
Some experiments have been made bv
the U. s. Fish Commission in the arti-
ficial culture ofoysters. but SO far with
out demonstrating methods which are
entirely practical and satisfactory. We
understand that the subject will con-
time to receive diligent attention, and,
in addition to this. the methods of rear
ing oysters IN artificial basins, so sue
cessfully practiced in. certain parts Of
Europe, and especially in France, will
be studied in detail, with a view to
utilizing the information in behalf OF
the oyster industries of the United
States. Forest and Stream.