Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-14
Special to the EVENING NEWS:


TRENTON, January 14.-Charles.
II. Bacon, chief of the New
Jersey Bureau of Shell Fisheries has
given out some information OF vital
interest to the oyster industry OF the
State. Chief Bacon emphasizes the
fact that the oyster laws and the RI
parian laws are In direct conflict ard
that there is a supreme necessity.
for harmonizing them to avoid fu-
ture damage to the oyster business-
He shows also that the withdrawal
by the State of the appropriation for
Smelling" the Jersey oyster waters
has curtailed to a very large extent
the growth of natural seed oysters.
Mr.. Bacon says that 1t is evident that
legislation looking to better Develop
ment of these natural oyster beds Is
absolutely necessary If the industry
Is to thrive.
Fayors Investigation.
Speaking of the report that the
legislature may order an investiEa-
ton of the oyster industry with =
view to [ ivising laws for its better
regulation, Mr.. Bacon asserts that
there Is good ground for such an ine
vestigation. He says:
81 am voicing the sentiment Of all
the oyster commissions of the state
when | say that any investigation Of
the oyster industry which he legis-
lature may deem advisable to make
will be heartily welcomed. 1t seems
to be the general opinion that there
is need of clearer and less complex
laws to govern the industry in tho
state. Cape May county, for In
stance. has neither protection under
existing laws, nor has any board OF
commissioners any Jurisdiction what
over over the oyster lands of that
county. This has been due to the
fact that the members of the legls-
lature have been unable to secure an
agreement among the oystermen 9
to just what they need.
ut is acknowledged by practical
all oystermen that the laws COVE
ing the several oyster commissij
need considerable altering to m
them entirely satisfactory. 1t
agreed by nearly all oystermen
llt OldiC , AhAAAIH1E 0ooCt az
ster bearing beds is not now full
veloped. The industry which
yields about $4,000, 900 a year
double that amount.
thousands of acres of LAM
! ng idle could, by proper leg
be developed into thrifty and
able oyster bearing areas."
Natural Beds Not Dep
Mr.. Bacon says 1t is not
the natural seed beds hsI
pleted. The great wide
natural beds in Della var bay
duced more natural growth the past
season than at any time In the his
tory of the industry. Chief Bacon
commends the action OF the legisIH-
ture of TWO years & In shortening
the season for taking seed oysters.
This gave these oysters a better
chance to develop after spawning
and they were in much better condi-
ton for planting.
Mr.. Bacon holds that what Is
needed Is careful, intelligent and
comprehensive re-adjustment OF all
the existing laws governing the oys\
ster industry, so that what Is nov
regarded as the topheavy plan OF gov
| eminent may be simplified. Theirs
are now three oyster commissions
of ten members each, and a superin-
tendent for each of the three districts
and Chief Bacon says: IF the legts-
lature could devise some plan Tor
simplifying this system and bring s
ing the control of the industry into
one central body 1t would be to the
greatest interest of the state q
would immensely increase the value
of the oyster product"
On the subject of the riparian ff~
vestigation Mr.. Bacon says: The M
auiry developed the fact that the oy-
ster laws and riparian laws are IN
direct conflict. The necessity for
reconciling them becomes apparent
to the most casual observer. JUS
how this may be accomplished is not
now plain, but that 1t should De
done all oystermen are agreed"