The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-04
MINE OF WEALTH
THE SHELL FISH INDUSTRY
Showing Made by the New STATE
Department - Comparison
With Other States

"Men representing the various
counties in the next legislature
will have an opportunity of going
down in the achives of Florida
history as real statesmen it they
confne their efforts to general
Legislation and abstain from petty
local matters.
"Last session the commissioner
of she'll fish was created and this
department has done as much real
good for the state in the way OF
preserving our natural resources
as anything we know of. The de-
partment was handicapped in not
having funds, but the department.
has worked to such a good end
that this year the state will receive
eight thousand dollars in excess
of the running expense OF the de-
partment. In addition to this, it
has built up the oyster industry to
an extent that will mean millions
to Florida for years to come.
eff the fish of the salt waters
were in charge of similar COM
missioner with adequate laws it
would be possible for the state to
get not less than hundred thous-
and dollars the first year without
working hardship upon single
person, and at the same time
would build up the rapidly disap-
pearing fish industry in Florida.
Let us make a few compare
sons. Delaware, small state
with water area less than the
water area of Franklin county, re-
ceived from the water industry
through the process of leasing the
bottoms for artificial oyster grow
ing, more than $4,000. Vir-
ginia and Rhode Island each re-
ceived in excess of million dol
lars.
''By regulating the oyster and
fish industry of Florida it will be
a few years until more than a mil
lion dollars would come annually
as a result. 1t would be possible
to conduct all of the state govern
ment, including the upkeep of the
educational institutions on the
funds derived from these two in
dustries.
In addition to what the state
would receive in money from these
industries it is difficult to calcu-
late the payrolls that will be made
possible by the development of the
fishing industry and the oyster
and clam and shrimp business.
The citrus crop in comparison
would be a small affair.
"The members of the legisIa-
ture have an opportunity to be-
come real statesmen if they only
will. Will not the newspapers of
Florida encourage the passage of
legislation that will
make the development of these in
dustries result in millions to the
te?"-Jacksonville State.
In reproducing the foregoing
article from the State, and com
its earnest consideration
by every member of the legisla-
ture, the Pensacola Journal ex-
presses the opinion that the two
officers of shell fish commissioner
and game and fish commissioner
should be consolidated under one
head. We think a better plan
would be, while retaining both
officers, to extend the jurisdiction
0f the former to the salt water
fish as well as the shell fish Of
The coast and bays of the state,
md confine the duties of the lat
Ter to the care of the game and to
,he fish of the lakes and streams
)f the interior This would make
sharp line of demarkation be-
,ween the two and would facili-
AXE the efficient working Of
both.
But this is matter of detail
which the legislature will settle as
t deems best. What we wish to
10 now is to second the efforts of
he State and the Journal to i'm
,ress upon the members of the
legislature the paramount i'm
,ortance of making adequate
for the protection and
development of the vast store of
wealth that lies in the waters of
he State, which should as the
ournal truly says, "bring mil
ions of dollars of revenue to the
'eople of the state. "-Bartow