The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-23

respects a division Of authority would act as a detrMnent to the industry Yet why not, when no one would zA- tempt to conduct any other large business with several heads. The first Commissioners, who really laid the foundations for everything which has been done since, and to whom every credit is due for their careful and painstaking work, were rejected for their trouble. Succeeding Com missions have taxed and engineered as best they could, with it may be imagined, not the greatest confidence in the future. The Towns under whose protection Jay those oyster areas most vital to the whole industry, have 7on1y in one or two cases made laws adequate for their preservation. As the State held the greatest acreage, it was thought by many that the main control lay with the Connmis- sion- On the contrary the key to the situation lay with individual and separate town authorities who have made no united effort for conserva- ton, so that now these grounds are almost completely demolished.
 Among other plans under construc- ton, it is proposed first to establish by some means or other at least one adeqaake spawning bed, planted with 8 carefully chosen type of oyster. Too much thought can not be spent upon the location of such a bed. It should be in comparatively pure waters, and under conditions of depth, saIinity, temperature, food supply, currents
 etc, suitable for the best develop naent. Consideration must also be given to the success of the locality in former years, and the probable effect of local changes and develop ments since that time Were financial means at hand, many such beds could be made, but it would take a consid- era!ble sum to even partially restore that which has been so thoughtlessly destroyed. The problem is exceeding | ly difficult at best. The oystermen | themselves are not now in the best position to give much financial help, l on account of the unsatisfactory con dition of theb usiness during the last l ten years. Moreover some of them have spent thousands of dollars in l planting no outside grounds withoa4 ! results. It was not previously wnokn, ! of course, that oysters planted in deep ! water would not spawn to advantage. 1 but if 1t had been known, the oys-
 termen could not have then used the
 rivers for this purpose. It is only 1 ! quired ther ight to establish spawn 1 ing beds in town waters. It will probably take a, number of years tG 1 bring about the wished for results but a single start in the right dfrec- l ton, and with the cooperation Of all | is worth everything. The connnis
 sione<A- hope that when once it has
 been shown what can be done, that
 more money will be available tor tht gradual retaining of ether areas Then too, people in towns wher' l trade waste has been permitted tt destroy the productivity of their wat
 CTS, may some time come to rea5iz
 the advantage of doing something. Il
 this conn etction it might be we'll if tn
 State Commission could have advisor, powers with the Board of Health il
 all matters appertaining to shell-fish
 Lastly, the State should have exc41
 sive jurisdiction over aN shell fsl
 grounds whatsoever. Three town
 have already comeu nder State juris
 diction, and the others should do S
 at the earliest opportunity. Only E
 thism cans can the fiery serious sit
 uation be met with some promise Q
 success. At this late day it is fel
 that whatever is to be accomplished
 must be done through unity of e1
 fort and from a central office wher recona1n endations can be received anffw here there is proper authortt
 to put constructive measures into ef ] feet