REPORT

To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations:

GENTLEMEN:-The undersigned Commissioners of Shell Fisheries, elected by your Honorable Body on January 14th, 1915, beg leave to report for your consideration the conditions of the department placed within their charge, together with the acts of the Commission relative thereto. The law requires that a report of the conditions of the shell fisheries of this State, together with the receipts and disbursements of the department shall be made annually to your Honorable Body. It also provides that the number of acres leased within this State, with the names and addresses of the lessees, with the amount of rental due from each shall be included in the report. This report will contain the data and information of record in the office of the Commissioners of Shell Fisheries up to and including the 31st day of December, 1915.

As the term of office of the previous Commission expired on the 31st day of January, 1915, the present Commission met in their office at the State House, Providence, on February 1st, 1915, for the purpose of organization. The oath of office was administered to the members by the Assistant Secretary of State, Hon. Ernest L. Sprague. After the oath of office the Commission proceeded to organize by the election of Hon. Philip H. Wilbour, of Little Compton, as Chairman; Hon. Edward Atchison, of North Smithfield, as Vice-Chairman; Brayton A. Round, as Clerk, and Charles W. Collins, as Assistant Clerk.

As the law directs that all applications for lease of oyster ground. shall be heard on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month, it was voted

by the Commission that they should meet on the 1st Friday of each month, with special meetings as circumstances should require.

It is with deep sorrow that we have to announce the death of our esteemed friend and fellow member, Captain John H. Northup, who departed this life May 16, 1915. Captain Northup was first elected Commissioner of Shell Fisheries by your Honorable Body in grand committee on February 28th, 1895. He was re-elected four times during the period of his connection with this Commission; the elections being held in January of the years 1900, 1905, 1910 and 1915. Owing to his long experience on the waters and shores of Narragansett Bay in the various occupations of his eventful life, his judgment and advice was invaluable, and was often sought and accepted by his associates on the Commission. He was always courteous and kind to his fellow members, willing to listen to and give proper consideration, the opinion of his associates of the Commission. We feel that in the passing away of our associate the Commission has met with an irreparable loss and that the State has lost an able and efficient citizen.

On July 28th, 1915, His Excellency, Governor Beeckman, appoint ed as successor to our late member, Captain Northup, Col. Randall A. Harrington, of Warwick; Col. Harrington taking his seat as a member of the Commission August 6th, 1915. The Commission. now consists of Hon. P. H. Wilbour, of Little Compton; Hon Edward Atchison, of North Smithfield; Hon. Milton Duckworth, of Carolina; Hon. William T. Lewis, of Barrington, and Col. Randall A. Harrington, of Warwick.

In presenting for your consideration the various matters pertaining to our department, we shall present the same by subjects, with such recommendations made at the close of the discussion of the subject under consideration as we deem advisable.

LAWS.

We have repeatedly called your Honorable Body's attention to the many discrepancies and inadequacy of many of the laws which are placed within our department for enforcement. Some of these laws have been amended from time to time, and always to the advantage of the citizens of the State, although many times such changes have been bitterly opposed by that class of citizens who desire to continually take from the public reservation without interference. While there are but few chapters of the Public Statutes that we are required to enforce, they cover considerable of a field, and in considering the various chapters we will first call your attention to the chapter which seems to us to be one of great importance, that is Chapter 203. This chapter was adopted by the General Assembly in 1844 with the object of encouraging and promoting the cultivation of the oyster. There has been in all states a great deal of opposition to the promoting of shell fish culture, particularly by those citizens who make use of the beaches and waters to their own pecuniary advantage. In the Southern states, oyster cultivation and shell fish culture is strenuously opposed and at the present time they require a fleet of boats to enforce their laws. In Rhode Island, while we met with pretty strong opposition during the early stages of our industry, at no time was there such violence as is used in other states. the first twenty years of this chapter there was but little progress made, owing to the opposition to its provisions by many of the fishermen. In 1864, the industry was at about the same position. as at its commencement, but since that time progress has been made with, at times, considerable rapidity.

During

This chapter has been rewritten and many amendments have been made to the same from time to time as circumstances and conditions of the industry warranted, but the main provision, that is, the leasing of ground for the purpose of oyster cultivation, has remained substantially the same now as upon its first adoption. During the past year there have been no changes made to this chapter

and we are of the opinion that none are necessary and we therefore recommend that the same be retained without change.

(CHAPTER 1343) "Of the Protection of Quahaugs."

This chapter is an amendment to Chapter 205, which was adopted in May, 1908. It provides for regulating the size of quahaugs that may be legally taken from the shores or waters of our State, and it is of particular importance, as by such regulations we are enabled to prevent the extermination of the little neck. Previous to the adoption of this statute many hundreds of bushels of little necks that were not a year old were taken from the shores and shipped to various places out of the State. Now, no quahaugs can be caught that are less than one and one-half inches in diameter, taking the smallest diameter. This enables the quahaugs to become at least two years old before they are caught. The first clause of this chapter provides that no person shall have in his possession any quahaugs less than one and one-half inches in diameter, taking the smallest diameter, under penalty of $5.00 for each and every quart. We are of the opinion that this chapter will be found fully adequate to protect the little neck industry of Rhode Island and we would recommend that the same remain without change.

(CHAPTER 209) "Of the Scallop Fisheries."

This chapter is one that has been upon our statutes many years and has proved fairly satisfactory. In fact, with very slight changes, we could not have better provisions for the protection of our scallop fisheries. It has been pretty clearly demonstrated during the years that this law has been in force, that were the season shortened and the quantity lessened that might be taken in any one day, the scallop fisheries would be greatly benefited. One of the reasons for the shortening of the season is that like other shell fish, scallops grow during the warm months of the year and cease to grow during the cold months, growing very little or none after December, and not begin