The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-16
OYSTER FRONTIERS DO
 NOT WANT BEDS LEASED

Hartford, June 16.-The shelI-fisheT- ies committee gave hearings on bills pertinent to the leasing of oyster grounds, the scientific investigation of oyster propagation, the nonresident holdings of oyster franchises and the buoying of natural oyster grounds. As was expected. the bills for leasing met | With some opposition, the attendants at the hearing for the greater part be- 1 Ing the oyster growthers. They did not seem to see the benefits such as increased productivity, to be obtained by leasing system. The leasing bills two in number, were explained by the tax commissioner at the start
 Bill 544 provides that the system of perpetual franchises be discontinued where new grounds are concerned. The bill will not interfere with present rights. Connecticut is the only state and Suffolk county in New York is the only county where a perpetual grant is allowed. Bill 547 if passed will split the oyster grounds into small lots. Commissioner Corbin said he guessed the persons at the hearing would be opposed to it, though it was framed in the interest of the oyster men.
 There are nine natural beds, and four are being buoyed by the shellhsh commission. MT. Corbin said the bill when passed would protect the hoid-
  ey he spent in cultivation It will increase the productivity. It had been said that the area of twenty-five acres designated as a lot would not allow sail boat to keep within the lines. That was a practical problem. The In opposition to these measures, the oyster growthers arose from their seats. It was deemed better to ex- press their disapproval in this manner than to take up the time in argument.
 No opposition was made to bill authorizing the appointment of 2 dumping inspector to make sworn re- turns, and prohibiting the depositins of matter in Long Island Sound be- tween sunset and sunrise, and requ1r- ing the filing of notice with the com mission before anything is dumped at all s. c. Morehouse believed the bill ought to pass for the interest Of ths industry and there was no opposition.
 The only objection, practically, to bill authorizing the director of the Sheffield Scientific School to maintain a station for the investigation of oys- ter propagation at cost not to ex- ceed $500 annually was from ex-Sen- ator Franklin Homan of New Haven and Frank E. Smith of Stony Creek. The bill was introduced to benefit the industry. F. s. Birdseye of West Hartford who supported several of the bills favored this one. MT. Horan believed it was an entering wedge for something larger and he was merely concerned in the raising of oysters and selling them. F. F.. Smith pro- duced a sample of oysters he had rais- ed. and believed that a study of na- ture and practical experience was enough for the culture.
 MT Homan and Gordon Rowe CT New Haven were for validating the nonresident holdings as 1t would avoid annoyance and red-tape. The oyster srowthers expressed themselves as much pleased with the buoyfng of the grounds by the state. There was some objection to the number of buoys which had been planted at corner. This was explained by Frederick Per ry of the shell-fish commission to ths effect that some old buoys remained The state officials never set over two buoys at a corner as required by law. The growthers were in favor of bill for bounties for successful prosecu- tions.