The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-07
TAXATION FORGING SHELLFISH INDUSTRY FROM CONNECTICUT,
 OYSTER GROWERS HEAD SAYS
H. C. Rowe Presents Papers to Fisheries Society and Al leges Faults Occur in Assessments Declares Oyster Farmers Were Deprived of Police For Which They Pay State Tax

of the commission cost the state $50, and that their pay was drawn ac- cording to the reports of the com missioners, for nearly every week of the year. Also that the expenditures for the clerk of shell fisheries and the engineer were of extravagant propor- tions, so that although the oyster growers had raid the state over $57,. 900 for grounds, instead of net pro- ceeds there was a loss of over $45,O00.
 Industry Keeps Growing.
 In the meantime, however, the oyster industry had grown very rap idly up to the time of the inception of the comission in 1881, and from that time until 1885 the growth con tinued, and although at much slower rate, until about 1890. This was not because of any encourage ment or assistance by the commission, but rather in spite of the hindrance and obstruction created by it.
 From 1876 until somewhat later than 1890 the business was prosper ous and profitable, and to a much less degree it remained so between 1890 and 190.
 With the increase of the quantity of oysters in Connecticut waters, il has been found that the growth of the oysters has been very much di- unfinished and the meats are as a rule not as we'll nourished. Whether these results are attributable to a diminu- ton of the food and shell material in the water owing to the great increase in the quantity of oysters, or whether it is due to various other causes which have been suggested, is not yet perhaps definitely decided.
 AS oysters furnish food to the star fish, the increase in this food has at various times much increased the number of star-fish, so that great ex- pense has been 'entailed to catch and destroy them. In addition to the na- tura1 causes, there are other reasons why the industry in Connecticut is now steadily declining and the acreage of oyster grounds held by planters in the state has greatly decreased i'll re- cent years.
 A Depressing Influence
 One of the most depressing inf1u- ences has been the unjust and un- reasonable taxation of oyster grounds.
 Prior to 1893, the law with refer ence to the taxation of the fran .chises for oysters grounds, was that the grounds should be assessed at their fair market value, and should pay a tax of ten mills upon this val uation. The basis for this taxation was that oyster farming was anala- gous to farming on land. Both are food producing and both depend up- on the propagation and planting of crops by thes- farmer. In both,y the crops must be protected and cared for, and must be harvested and mar keted when they arrive at maturity, if not lost during the five years of growth, required for oysters.
 When this law was enacted, it ap- peared that the average tax upon farm lands of the state was about ten mills on actual market. values, and as oyster farming was not more, haz- ardOus than upland farming, and as the property involved was less protect ed by law than property on land, it was considered that ten mills was sufficient and reasonable rate of tax ation. The taxation of oyster grounds was analogous to that of farms, rath- CT than to that of city property, be- cause the oyster grounds could not partake of the benefits of taxation such as are derived by city property, and they need no fire protection; no sewers or public works of any kind; no lamps; no building department; no expense parks, street pavements, sidewalk pavements, etc. All these items furnish reasons for the additional taxes which in many cities amount to twenty mills instead of ten mills, as upon farms in the country.
 In 1893 it was called to the atten- tion of the Legislature that the oys- ter grounds situated from one to four miles from land. in the open waters of Long Island Sound, were of neces- slty more subject to depreciation than any property on land, because the navigable waters are lawful high way which is travelled by every kind of boat and vessel by night and by day.
 Enact Five-A1in Tax.
 After long discussion in the Gen eral Assembly, it was enacted that five mills additional should be collected in taxes upon the oyster grounds, and the shellfish commissioners were au- thorized to expend this amount in oys- ter police for the protection of the oysters on these exposed grounds. 7
 The shellf1sh commission, whose personnel had been changed after the investigation of 1888, called con- sultation of oyster growers of the state and methods were devised for the ex- penditure of this additional tax in such ways as seemed to the oyster growers and to the commissi oners best adapted to protect these proper ties.
 This continued for eighteen or twenty years, when with out any au- thority of law or justice. the amounts collected for this purpose were with held and the oyster growers were