New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-04
Total
PROPAGATION OF FISH.

PROPAGATION OF FISH.
At the last Legislative session | vetoed two bills
establishing fish hacheries. personal investi-
CATION during the summer into the work of the Com
mlssoncrs OF Fisheries. including visits TO of
the existing haicherics persuaded that only three
0It OF the Eve hatcherics located properly for
the successful propagation OF fish. 10 Is unfortunate
that public money has been TINS misapprOpraicd. i
suggest that hereafter. when in the Judgment Ct the
Legislature new hachces needed. the location OF
the be left TO the discretion of the Commits
Of Fisheries. They pr, sumaby better qualified by
reason OF their eNpcr; knowledge to judge OF the com
parve merits OF different localities places for fish
culture, and such transfer Of responsibility would
check tendency recently observable in the LcgiSla
tre to make the creation of one new hatchery depend
upon the creation of one or more Others ..,. -.
stocking 0! lakes and streams, and With apparently
good results Their efforts should ne directed mainly.
however, 10 increasing the supply OF food Sh Merely
cOnservatOis Of spcrtsmcnS interests their official
existence and powers would scarcely be justified by hc
tax-paying public The scope OF their responsibility
and the measure OF their opportunity are much wider
than is prescribed by such narrow field There are
1900 square miles OF water within the area Of our
State capable OF producing unlimited supply Of fish
food, thus cheapenng in large degree the cost Of living
to the people creating additional employment and add
ing to the states wealth Every stream might be
made TO yield largely TO the food supply Of the farms
through which it runs and every lake might give means
of livelihood TO and furnish cheap. palatabc
food to families. Liberal stochng Of Lake ontario
With whitefsh: pike and lnke ,rcGt. assisted by
proper Tegnlaions for GatchcI would 6gld up , an
to aRc ashernen and the pblic .'S
As step IN this direction am Informed that
Ontario during the coming year.
bespeok for thi; subject The earnest consideration
small expenditure great gGcd can be accomplished.
OYSTER CULTURE.
Inspected with great interest during the summer
the oyster beds along the southern shore of Long
Island Sound. The State has the opportunity here
to develop an important industry. giving employment
to thousands Of men, enIlchlng the people by millions
OF dollars. and yielding under proper laws considerable
tn tl,1 cf.ta t,a
the act TO encourage oyster planting III Long Island
Sound was enacted: ard up to that time very little
the planters who supply the markets relying almost
entirely upon Virginia for sea oysters for cultivation
During the last five years Tie industry has made such
rapid progress that conservative estimates place
the value Of the oysters lying on the beds of Long
employed in the industry ut 10000. During the last
year 10000 barrels OF oysters, valued at S5so,0oo
were shipped TO Europe frcm Newlork City.
the Sound Which are available for oyster culture
number upward OF 1900 have now been leased.
The law provides that plots may be granted to the
been known about the industry that the greater num-
Der of these grants has not brought 10 the state
stiated. however that while the business y attended
by considerable risk. there Is extraordinary per
this reason recent bids for gi;.ntS have been
what higher. and the prospect is that hereafter The
desire to secure oyster beds VII! bring larger revenue
These are destined to become valuable franchises
fcicntly protect the interest OF the state in this
gard. I'll" States leases should not BE- perpetual but
these grants perpetual only In name, since the
beds become exhausted after period of ycars and
ing this defence IL would wiser and more
b''sincsslike policy If the Commis oncrs OF Fsherc:
period Of time. that at the expiration OF old leases
I he state might be In a position 10 impose new con,
10 The state in tho Franchise should then bc
found TO be very valuable.
In the development Of the oyster industry the stat"
can Jake Just pr.dr and al proper legislation should
be- afforded for lis encouragement But valuable pub
State commensurate with the value Of The privileges
granted
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
SO far tie Executive can ascertain. there Seems
10 BE- stroEg current Of popular sentiment: through
out the State in favor Of the posponemcnt OF the ecc
ton OF delegates TO the Constitutional Convention from
the second Tuesday OF February lin the general elcc
ton In November The expense Of an election in
February would be between 100000 and 100000.
which should be saved TO the Taxpayers II possible
1t would be possible. OF cours%. for the law TO be
amended so as TO permit tie election Of deIesaes At
not obviatc the necessity OF separate election In
New York and Brooklyn. and the election Of delegates
would take place cOncurrenily In all election dis
trcts OF the sate-a condition which, ! fear, might
lead 10 complications in The choosing Of delegate
Is that better class OF delegates Is likely to ic
chosen. Even were this tue. and the contention IN
whether the advantage would not be nullhcd by the
apparent disinclination OF the people 10 ln.ye an
election at this time. soon after the exhaustion OF
Presidential cecton-a disinclinaon that would prob
ably result In the polling Of very light vote. be-
cause OF lack Of Interest
The act itself providing for constitutional con
venfion Is somewhat faulty in construction and II Is
ssserfed by competent legal authority be Of doubt
fu c0nsttutionalty In Its provisions authorizing the
, DDolntment OF delegates. These provisions were de
signed to give minority representation 10 iabor and
prohibition Interests, whose voting strength Is not
concentrated TO enable them TO secure
pta ty he
nv Judgment that sort Of representation should also
have been allowed TO women suffragsts the BILL
originally provided Bnt " minority representation Iy
appointment Is unconstitutional the suggestion Is
submitted whether II cannot be secured
by election without violation OF the Constitution.
While II NAV DC conceded that minority representation
Is unconstitutional when applied 70 the election OF the
usual state and local officers. there l. ample prcc
o a constitutional convention; The CONSTITUTIONAL
OF 1867 included thirytwo delegates at
aEce OF whom no elecior could vote for more than |
Ixteen md the present Judiciary article OF orr Con-
'ttution Is part OF that conventions work and no |
,ody has ventured 10 question It's validity. II II !
houd be deemed best TO retain that feature Of the
,rcscpt Constitutional Convention Law. aud IL Is
TO abandon the provision for appointment
would suggest Its modification TO the extent o. per
hitting representation Of morr than one minority In
crest IL would cdd 10 the representative character |
n the convention n organized labor prohibition and
Iousn suffrage advocates might In this way participate
. full members In the procecaihes.
50 important TeasDre as llat providing for "a con
iitutional convention cannot be 100 carefully drafted
should constructed as 10 assure complete rep
o. MIA on and at the time able representatives.
the Constitution 10 be revised the revision should
. In ENABLE. safe bands. Owing 10 the limited time |
sfre The date fixed for the election OF delegates legs
at1vc Action must be promp II is not the desire Of