The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-17
$4,000 Barrels
Shell Fish Have
Been Planted on
Coast of Florida
SHELL FISH COMMISSIONER
HODGES HAS BEEN DOING
GOOD WORK SINCE HIS AP-
POlNTMENT
(By c. F. Johnson.)

of the state government is that OF
Shell Fish Commissioner T. r.
Hodges. An exhibit of various shell
fish that are available as food sup
ply along the coasts of the state of
Florida. has been placed in the lob
by of the capital, and attracts much
attention Every stage of the life
of an oyster is depicted in the many
articles on display, and samples
from different parts of the state
show what changes few miles
along the coast will make in shell
fish,
1T was expected that the shell fish
commissioner could make the new
department of the state government
a paying proposition for several
years, but the report that was pre-
sented to the committee on fisheries
this week, when some changes were
asked in the laws governing this de>
partment was surprise to every
member of the committees. The re-
port covered a period of eighteen
months and shows property and
money to the credit of the shell fish
commission amounting to Sill ,07l.1S
and a net profit to the state above
all running expenses of Si.S4S.2S.
The primary object of the COM
mission was to conserve the shell
fish industry of Florida Aside from
the financial gain, the industry has
been placed on business basis and
the law has been enforced in man
ner to increase the natural resour-
ces along these lines and conserve
the shell fish for future generations.
During the past eighteen months
$1,000 barrels of shell fish have
been planted in suitable places along
the coast and already these beds are
covered with young oysters of sufi-
cient size to be marketed at next
season. The season for 1915 closed
Thursday.
Better conditions have been main
tanned throughout the oyster pro-
ducing section of the state during
the existence of the commission.
A representative of this paper had
the pleasure to inspect the boats and
equipment in use along the coast by
Shell Fish Commissioner Hodges this
week, and to take oysters from some
Of the newly planted beds. The
oysters are of the finest quality, and
plentiful, showing the possibilities
in replenishing many of the depict.
ed oyster bars Of the state. If prop
er funds and equipment is provided
The Seafoam is the yacht used by
Mr.. Hodges and his employees in car
rying out the cruising work. look
ing after the leasing Of oyster bars
which source OF revenue is rapidly
increasing. This trim little boat Il
well suited to the work, but is hard
ly large enough for active work al
the year round, due to the fact thai
the weather is oftentimes very rough
on the gulf and demands a large
boat with steam power. During thu
past eighteen months the Seafoan
and her crew, including Mr.. Hodge
a. captain, have had some very mar
row escapes along the coast in gale
encountered. A smaller boat Is use'
in the bay around Carrabelle ant
Appalachicola as a patrol boat t.
enforce the regulations of the com
missioner. This was a necessity
because when bars are getting de
pleted they are CLOSED" to oyste
men for a term of years in order t
replenish the supply. While mos
of the oyster men have heartily co
operated with the commissioner
there is some who make the pres
ence of patrol boat necessary.
At Appalachicola and other places
along the coast where the large oys
ter canneries are located the own
ers of the carreries have been heart!
supporters of the work. The size o
oyster taken from the bars is on,
regulation that the Gamers hav,
helped to enforce.
Justwhat legislation will finall,
be enacted at this session of the leg
islature to enlarge the powers of tn
commissioner is at present unknown
but 1t is believed that some change
needed will be provided for.
The joint committee on fisherie
of the senate and house have decide,
on increasing the salary of the shell
fish commissioner to $4,000 a year
and allowing $1,000 for expenses
When it is considered that the worI
covers approximately three thous
and miles Of coast the travelling tina
must be done to carry out the wor
is great During the past yea
about 200 thousand miles have bee
traversed by the Seafoam with She
Fish Commissioner Hodges i
charge, looking after conditions i
the she'll fish industry.
With the work in such good shape
and provision made tor the eNten
sion, Florida will soon realize he
share business in this industry
So efficient has been the work c
the commission that the attention
the Federal Government was Gale
TO conditions. and the shell ifs