Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-31
sHRLrElsH COMMISSIONERS.
Present Their Report-Receipts for
 the Year Were $9,757.98.

Present Their Report-Receipts for
 the Year Were $9,7579S.
 New Haven, Dec 31.-The report of the shellfish commission, consisting of George c. Waldo of Bridgeport, Chris tion Schwartz of South Norwalk and Seth Sanford of Bedding, is made pub lie to-day. The receipts for the year, S9, 757.9S, are about the same as last year, though the expenditures. S6,961.- GI, are somewhat greater because in this report they are reckoned for thir- teen months. The receipts for the sale of new grounds are larger this year than last, while the aggregate of the boat licenses has fallen off, owing to the poor set on the natural oyster grounds of the state.
 In connection with the discussion of the financial statement. the commis- sion calls attention to statements made during the past year contrasting the receipts and expenses of the shellfish commissions of Rhode Island and Con- necticut to the disadvantage of the lat ter. After quoting figures of last year, the report says it is fact that the income of Rhode Island from oys- ter ground rentals is expected to reach $25, ,UU0 during the present year.
 .'The sudden rise In the receipts in Rhode Island in 1899 and the years following" continues the report, was contemporane0us with the appreciation by Connecticut growers of the fact that the advantages of maturing seed oys- ters for the market in Narragansett bay were very great, and that they could make money by transferring their young oysters from their Connec- ticut beds to Rhode Island waters, not withstanding the expense of the trans fer and the high charges in that state for the use of the grounds.
 "Connecticut has no such facilities to offer. no grounds located as are those of Rhode Island, and so favor:l- ble for the rapid development of the young oyster to a marketable state. While Connecticut natures the best oysters in the world, Rhode Island ma lures them quicker. How long these favorable conditions will last on the Rhode Island grounds it is impossible to judge at present. But be that as 1t may. the whole matter resolves itself into the fact that Rhode Island offers inducements now which Connecticut does not and cannot, and for which Connecticut growers are willing to pay the increased price,
 Tn further comparing the conditions in the two states. the commission says the oyster business of Connecticut IS worth vastly more than that of Rhode Island is to her her. From the gen eral situation of the grounds in the two states, those of Rhode Island may be likened to the small but valuable garden spot" while the Connecticut grounds represent the broad farm lands with the mixture of good, bad and indifferent of the average agricnl- tural district"
 With reference to the business of the year generally in Connecticut, the com mission finds that conditions have not been much better than in the previous year when a poor catch was recorded following the "big set" of 1899. Mere and more Is Connecticut becoming q seed raising state for New York, Rhode Island and even New Jersey. This year thousands of bushels of seed oysters have been taken from Bridge port to New Jersey by planters of fiat state.