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OCnusrruation

OF THE

|| Natural Food Resourres

OF) THE

State of Louisiana

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PRESS OF

DAMERON-PIERSON CO., LTD,
NEW ORLEANS

Kepurt

OF THE

Roard of Commissioners
Protection of Birds, Gamw and Fish
State of Louisiana

1912

MEMBERS

FRANK M. MILLER, Prestpent, New ORLEANS
Appointed by the Governor

FRED. J. GRACE, Ex-Orricio - PLAQUEMINE
Register State Land Office

Pror. W. R. DODSON, Ex-Orricio, BATon RouGEe

Director State Experiment Stations

i

a A. LMOST every one admits the necessity of laws

for the Conservation of our Natural Resources

in the way of Game, Fish, Oysters, Shrimp
= Water Sites. It is conceded that our present laws
are not perfect, but this Board believes that the very best
of foundations were laid down by the last General Assem-
bly in collaboration with your Excellency, and we trust
the work will be permitted to go on and be improved,
until Louisiana shows to all the States of the Union the
best system whereby the many problems connected with
this new and almost unknown feature of our body politic

are solved to the uplift of the State and her sovereign people.

ANATOMY OF THE OYSTER
FROM A MODEL IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

NO EQUAL AREA

exists on the earth comparable to Louisiana in the productiveness of her
lands or the wealth in her waters. We have over 534,700 acres of the finest
oyster bottoms in this or any other country. Past General Assemblies have
enacted laws for the conservation of this resource which in the main have
been good, but only relatively so. It was the opinion of the members of
the various sessions of that body that it would be better to go slow and sure,
rather than enact radical laws which might be antagonistic to the devel-
opment of the business on safe lines.

During the past year, the citizens engaged in this business marketed
approximately eight hundred thousand barrels of oysters, of an approximate

value of one million dollars to the fishermen. This is about the maximum pro-
duction of our bottoms under the present system permitted by our laws.
No great increase can be counted on until the General Assembly enacts a
law giving our Board authority to adjudicate the trust im the several parishes
as local conditions determine, or decide to pass a general law forcing a more
general adoption of the renting system. The former would be the most
logical. The latter’ system is a sina quo non to the solution of the problem
and sooner or later will be incorporated in the law as the policy of the State.

Another feature sacremental to the continued existence of the resource
is the return of a part of the oyster shells taken from the natural reefs
and unleased bottoms, to be placed on other bottoms for the upbuilding and
continuance of the future supply.

The triangulation of our oyster bottoms, a most important work which
has been urged upon us by the experts of the Federal Government, should
be started at once. Sooner or later this work must be done. With the issu-
ance of each new lease, the problem of keeping exact field data of all leases
grows greater. If this work is not begun shortly and carried on as the
income warrants, it will have to be done some day at a vast expenditure of
time, trouble and labor. Attached to this report is a chart prepared by our
Chief Surveyor, Frank T. Payne, showing the conditions of the oyster
resource in St. Bernard Parish. There are fewer leases here than in any
other parish and it is shown so as to give an idea of the vast importance
of the work.

In times past it was the custom to give out statements regarding the
possible vast income to be derived from the operation of the oyster resources
of the State. This was unfortunate to say the least, and this present Board
wants to go on record as discountenancing any plan which provides for
the State to exploit this resource. We believe the business should be
operated by the citizens of the various parishes, and supervised by the State
on the most economical basis, and that all surplus funds arising therefrom
should immediately be applied to the upbuilding of the resource so that
each year the condition of the resource as to natural possibilities and to
business outgrowing therefrom should show a most healthy development.

=

OUR FISHERIES

exist In embryo and yet there is no equal water area anywhere. The possi-
bilities of our water for the production of fish are almost unbelievable and
only needs scientific development to make our streams the perennial source
of a vast quantity of toothsome and valuable food commodity, to be sold
in the markets of the world.

The practice of dynamiting our streams was largely prevalent through-
out the State before we took hold of the work, but thanks to the activity
of the wardens and the stimulus of a reward of fifty dollars for evidence
sufficient to convict the guilty parties, we have almost broken up this repre-
hensible practice.

We have planned the erection of two fish hatcheries for the production
of black bass or green trout. One in the Southern the other in the Northern
part of the State.

The present fish law is the beginning of the development of this resource
and is only an experiment. Unfortunately, the class of citizens which it
seeks to control is the most independent and the most improvident of all
citizens. After one hundred years of effort they have nothing to show for
all their labor but the direst poverty, for the simple reason that the State
has neglected them and the marvelous possibilities of the food supply they
handle.

We would arouse the people to the importance of this question, believing
the time has come when the antiquated methods of the present should give way
and the business placed on a firm and enduring basis whereby it could grow
and expand into the magnitude to which it is entitled. In fact, the General
Assembly must either do this, or abandon the resource altogether and allow
it to be dissipated through the neglect of those who hitherto have almost
destroyed it through their ignorance of and indifference to its wonderful value.

We wish it were possible to begin an immediate development of the
resource. Before doing so, however, two grave problems intimately connected
therewith must be settled. The first relates to the destruction of the water
hyacinth, which in some parts of the State has taken complete possession
of the streams. The Federal Government is working on the problem and
after seeing what they can do, or rather what they cannot do towards the
eradication of the pest, we are conscious that the State has a stupendous
undertaking on its hands.

The second obstacle is the enormous inerease of gar fish inhabiting our
streams with the result of destroying the game fish therein at such an alarm-
ing rate that something must be done and done soon to stop a threatened
disaster. After a thorough investigation by Prof. Beyer of Tulane University,
we beheve the most essential thine to prevent this is the re- -establishment
of the alligators in our streams. Formerly they were plentiful, but in
recent years the hide dealers have practically exterminated them with the
result of taking away the check which nature had placed against the undue
increase of the gar fish. A State law for the protection of alligators must
first be enacted by the General Assembly ere any amelioration or improve-
ment of the present condition of our streams can be expected.

Commercial fisheries on a vast scale are the possibilities of our unrivalled
water area. The Federal Government has proposed the establishment of
a great fish hatchery on the Atchafalava River for the propagation of cat
fish. It is needless however, to expect the inauguration of any such work
as long as the State has no settled policy regarding the conservation of
her resources.

ore

In order to determine what was a right policy, we solicited the Federal
Bureau of Fisheries to find us a first class fish culturist, and later on they
recommended E. A. Tulian, lately Fish Commissioner of the Argentine
Republic.

The most painstaking investigations of the streams of the State were
made by him and we are now fully conscious of the State’s needs and only
await the approval of the General Assembly to begin active work on the
solution of the various problems. The State stands at the parting of the
ways and a most momentous question will have to be settled by the next
General Assembly. Either this vast resource must be conserved on lines
already laid down, or be allowed to die through want of proper care.

THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

enacted a law for the protection of Salt Water Shrimp. No sooner did we
attempt to enforce it than an injunction was taken out against us in the
Federal District Court by Two Chinamen who had for years benefited by the
States hospitality and indifference to the worth of the resource. We defeated
them in that Court, whereupon they took an appeal to the Supreme Court
of the United States, thereby putting the State to great expense and trouble,
in addition to having set aside the plain mandate of the last General
Assembly.

Under these circumstances, your Board believes the time has come when
the resource could more profitably be handled by citizens of our own State
and placed upon the market as a Louisiana product, which we regret to
say the citizens of another State who have hitherto handled the commodity,
have failed to do.

Due to the facet that the various interests have never been able to agree
on any measure of conservation for this resource, no laws for the protection
of lake shrimp (peneaus setipherous) were enacted by the General Assembly
previous to the last one. In consequence of this neglect the annual catch
has dropped down to ten million pounds of an annual value of three hundred
thousand dollars ($300,000.00) and it will be many years ere the resource
ean be brought to its maximum annual production of, we believe, one
hundred milhon pounds of edible food.

THE QUESTION OF

Game Preserves has received considerable attention by the sportsmen of
our own and other States since the last General Assembly set aside and
placed under the control of our Board some State lands located in Caldwell
and Plaquemines Parishes. Edward Avery MelIlhenny of Avery Island and
Charles Willis Ward, late of Michigan, have given to the State under our
control 13,000 acres of the finest marsh lands located in Vermilion Parish.
Louisiana, the winter home of the migratory ducks and geese, thus leads
the way to a better safe-guarding for all future time of these winter
habitants, and sportsmen everywhere have hailed this donation and the work
of your Board as one of the greatest features of game conservation in this
country.

GAME PROTECTION.

We now take up for consideration the most important work we have
been engaged in, to-wit: the preservation of the game animals of the State
and the inauguration of a paid game warden service.

The history of game protection in this State, until recent years, has
been one long series of failures. In the year 1857, the first law for the

protection of game birds was passed by the General Assembly. In it the
control of the game in St. Bernard Parish was given to the Police Jury of
that Parish.

Twenty years afterwards, in the year 1877, the General Assembly dele-
gated to the Police Juries of all the parishes the same right.

As far as we can learn, no parish took advantage of this permission and
in consequence, the State escaped the unfortunate experience of some of the
other States in having a multiplicity of local ordinances.

Five years afterwards, in the vear 1882, the General Assembly re-en-
acted the Act of 1877. But still no Police Jury of any Parish would take
advantage of the permission so given.

In the year 1896, after thirty-nine years of failure, the General Assem-
bly of that year enacted a most sweeping act, granting to the Police Juries
of the several parishes of the State, authority to pass such ordinances “AS
THEY MAY DEEM PROPER for the preservation of wild game and game
fish.”

EVEN THIS SWEEPING LAW

was not sufficient. It was found that while the General Assembly could
enact laws giving absolute power to the Police Juries to protect game and
fish, the parish boards either would not enact suitable ordinances or had
no means to enforce them if they did so. The result being an absolute and
disheartening failure and in all attempts at the solution of the problem
this experience of the State with the Police Juries should never be lost
sight of.

In the year 1898, the General Assembly began to experiment with State
control, and in the year 1900 re-enacted the same kind of law.

The State, however, could do no better than the Parish Police Juries
for the reason that there was no agency, nor no money to pay an agency
to enforce the law. So in 1902, the General Assembly went back to the
Police Jury idea, giving them power “to appoint Game Wardens, to define
their duties and to provide for their compensation. ‘i

Anyone familiar with the pressing demands for money to carry on the
necessary work of the various parishes might have known that this experi-
ment was doomed to failure, but such thoughts were not considered, it being
conceded that paid Game Wardens to enforce the Game Laws were as necessary
as the Game Laws themselves. Thus after forty-five years struggling with
Game Laws, the General Assembly at last reached the conclusion that it
was futile to enact more laws until they had first provided some paid agency
to enforce what laws they created.

Just at this time when game production had sunk to the lowest state
of public indifference, the Audubon Society, composed of citizens of the
State was inaugurated and began a campaign of education on the value of
insectivorous birds to the agricultural interests of the State. They showed
by indisputable evidence the tremendous losses and waste of resources that
had been suffered by the people of the State. To clinch the argument and
just at this moment, the boll weevil made its appearance with the result
that our cotton planters and allied business interests were almost ruined.
This was an object lesson in bird destruction which could not be ignored,
and sentiment for the protection of insectivorous birds as well as game
birds began to rapidly manifest itself all over the State.

In the years 1904 and 1906, the General Assembly was engaged in
trying to solve the problem and at last, in the year 1908, after fifty-
one years of experimentation, they created the Board of Commissioners for

—10—

the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, with authority to appoint the Game
Wardens which they knew were absolutely essential in the solution of the
problem, and making it compulsory on everyone who killed game either for
pleasure or for profit, to pay an annual license to defray the cost of this
paid Warden service.

Since that day, the Board of Commissioners has been engaged in try-
ing to solve the innumerable problems connected with the conservation of
these Natural Resources.

THE WARDEN SERVICE

always has been and probably always will be subject to criticism. One man
only can be appointed in the large majority of the parishes. All the other
applicants (and there are very many) at once feel aggrieved and it is but
natural to expect them to vent their disappointment in fault-finding.

A feature in line with this fault-finding by the disappointed office
seekers, 1s the way in which the Warden service has been condemned by
those who do not hunt or pay for a hunting license. This is a never ending
source of surprise to the members of your Board. This whole movement
for the conservation of game was started by the sportsmen who earlier than
the members of the General Assembly, realized that without a paid Warden
service there never could be enforcement of the game laws and who willingly
assess themselves this tax to carry on the work and thus save the State from
appropriating from the General Fund a sum of money sufficient to pay for
same. We therefore respectfully urge upon the members of the General
Assembly the reasonableness of ignoring the eriticisms of those who are not
financially interested in the problem.

The Warden service is also condemned in parishes where the game has
disappeared, and yet there is no other way that can be imagined than to
rigidly enforce the game laws during the breeding season so as to aid nature
in her effort to bring back the former plenty, and this is impossible of
accomplishment without a paid service. The fact of the matter is that
game preservation without a paid warden service is an absolute impossibility.

Such being the case the most important question is how to get the
best service, for the sportsmen who pay for the service want the best to be had.

We have listened to every manner of suggestion as to the improvement
of the warden service. After weighing the merits of each, we take the
liberty of suggesting the following plan which seems to meet many of the
objections urged, against the present system. All applicants to register them-
selves with the Board, to submit themselves for competitive examination
as to their mental, moral and physical fitness and the one securing the
highest percentage to be appoimted. With competitive examinations and
close supervision to maintain efficiency, we believe the State can give the
sportsmen what they want and pay for.

IN LOOKING BACK

over the four years of the existence of the Commission and the Warden
Service, the members of the Board are amazed at the changes which have
taken place. Before we began work, the shipment of wild ducks to the
Northern markets during the hunting season had assumed colossal propor-
tions. This has been broken up and only a few birds are now surreptitiously
shipped out of the State.

New York bird dealers were responsible for an annual loss to the
State of probably 25,000 mocking birds. This has been broken up and

everyone, from one end of the State to the other, has noticed how the mock-
ing birds have increased.

One of the singular results of the activities of the Wardens has been
the disappearance of the “pot-hunter” throughout the State. Formerly he
killed everything that flew, both in and out of season. Now in many
instances, he does not even carry a gun.

The most astonishing thing, however, is the unprecedented increase
of our stock of quail or bob white, and doves, due altogether to the fact
that our wardens have kept the hunters out of the fields during the breed-
ing season, and if the General Assembly would enact a State dog license
law which would result in getting rid of the vast horde of cur dogs, the
result would be such an increase of quail that they would become a common
article of diet.

NATURE IS SO WONDERFULLY
prolific within the bounds of our State, that if only the General Assembly

would decide to place this Board on the,same plane of responsibility that
it has placed many other Boards, such as the State Board of Health, the
Levee Boards, the Prison Board, and the Railroad Commission, and allow
it to solve within constitutional limitations, the innumerable problems con-
nected with game preservation as they arise, Louisiana could be made the
greatest game area within the Union.

For instance we intend to ask the General Assembly to take the time
to pass an Act for the protection of rabbits. No one particularly cares
to have rabbits protected, yet we are forced to ask this for the reason that
in some parishes where objection to the game law exists, due to the fact
that there is no game there, the hunters have been told to tell our wardens
that they are out hunting rabbits and need no lcense. Thereby breaking
the spirit of the law while acknowledging the force of the letter.

Seventy-five thousand sportsmen find pleasure in hunting while about
600 market hunters supply the tables of those of our citizens who do not
hunt and the vast number of strangers who visit our restaurants and hotels
during the season when game may be sold. Under our present law a most
unjust arrangement prevails with the market hunter and should be cor-
rected. A heavy tax falls on him, while the people who buy game in the
markets, hotels and restaurants do not contribute one penny to the support
of the Commission and its various activities. We are therefore asking the
General Assembly to make a change in the present law by permitting the
market hunter to hunt under a dollar license and making the retailer place
on each dead bird a license tag, the cost of which he will proceed to collect
from the consumer who by right should, pay the tax and who cannot legiti-
mately complain of such action.

VALUE OF GAME KILLED.

The question naturally presents itself as to what these 75,000 sportsmen
receive in return for their dollar permit to hunt and kill the game which
by legislative enactment and decree of the United States Supreme Court
belongs unconditionally to the State. Probably no two answers wotld agree
and ours is only an approximate one, but after painstaking investigations
we believe irrespective of all other considerations other than the monetary
one, that the total kill of game birds and animals and fur-bearing animals
has a net annual value of considerably more than two million dollars with
a constantly increasing annual value due to the supervision of the warden
service during the breeding season. The pleasure which the sportsmen derive
from the pursuit of game, we admit is the main factor in the sale of the

a ee

licenses, yet nevertheless the monetary aspect is there and should be con-
sidered when the subject is before the people for discussion.

One feature of game protection will have to be seriously considered by
the next General Assembly. The amateur sportsmen, who support the
Commission and its warden service by means of their dollar license,
are going to demand the enactment of a law prohibiting the sale of game
animals and game birds, except ducks. Many States of the Union have
already adopted this proviso and it is a serious question whether Louisiana
shall fall in line or not. The sportsmen themselves will present this question
to the General Assembly on its merits.

The trust committed to the care of your Board is of such immense value
and importance to the people of the State, that it is difficult to compress a
report on same within reasonable readable limits, or not to speak of it an
terms of great enthusiasm.

Innumerable details connected with its development must be worked
out, but with care and patience and time, we believe it is possible to do
this and make the work a grand success. It is necessary, however, that
the General Assetnbly should decide upon some fixed policy to Conserve our
Great Natural Resources, so that the work could be laid out on a com-
prehensive plan and be carried out as income and opportunity warrants.

Forty-two States of the Union have a similar system or parts of it
which the last General Assembly enacted into law in the behef that they
were solving the Conservation problems confronting us in this State, and
it is earnestly hoped that this great and grand work shall not fail of final
and complete accomplishment.

The gross annual value of the resources controlled by this Board are
stupendous in their present aggregate. But more surprising than the present
is the prospective value of this natural food supply. It now has an annual
value of approximately three million, eight hundred and seventy thousand
dollars ($3,870,000.00). Under wise conservation plans these resources irre-
spective of the oyster resource may be largely increased. In the oyster
resource, the State has an asset more valuable than any gold mine, for the
reason that it is capable of unlimited development and unlike any gold mine,
may be made more valuable each year.

More laws have been enacted and more work done for the Conservation
of these great resources during the Administration of your Excellency than
was done in the whole previous history of the State. The result is that
Louisiana, in this respect, leads every other State of the Union. Such
pre-eminence is dangerous in the extreme in that a reactionary wave of
sentiment may occur in which this pre-eminence may be endangered. We
therefore urge with all our might the necessity of great caution in making
changes in the system of handling these vast sources of natural wealth
which by legislative enactment have been declared to be the property of
the people of the State. By the singular bounty of the Providence of God,
Louisiana stands pre-eminent in her wealth of natural food supply, that
she may remain so is the earnest desire of

Yours very respectfully,
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF BIRDS, GAME AND FISH,
FRANK M. MILLER,
President.
To His EXcELLENCY, JARED YOUNG SANDERS,
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

The following list shows the present manner in which the preservation
and protection of game is taken care of in the various States of the Union:

SUPERVISION UNDER A STATE GAME COMMISSION oR BOARD—18.

Arizona New Jersey
California New York
Connecticut North Carolina
Delaware North Dakota
Louisiana Ohio

Maine Oregon
Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Minnesota Rhode Island
New Hampshire Wyoming

SUPERVISION UNDER A STATE GAME COMMISSIONER OR WARDEN—24.

Alabama < Nebraska
Colorado New Mexico
Georgia Oklahoma
Idaho South Carolina
Illinois South Dakota
Indiana ‘Tennessee
lowa Texas

Kansas Utah
Maryland Vermont
Michigan Washington
Missouri West Virginia
Montana Wisconsin

States Havine LocaLt or County SuUPERVISION—6.

Arkansas Mississipp1
Florida Nevada
Kentucky Virginia

In most all the States in the first two classifications, the head of the
department is appointed by the Governor of the State. In Alabama alone,
he is elected by the people. The salaries vary from $1,000.00 in New Hamp-
shire to $10,000.00 in New York. The terms of office run from two years
in Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Vermont and
Wisconsin, to six years in New York and eight years in Tennessee, the usual
term being four years.

THE WARDEN SERVICE

in the various States is subject to changes, but our latest advices are as
follows:
ALABAMA
Appointed by the Commissioner; fee that of a constable, one-half the
fines, and $3.00 per day when serving under special instructions.
CALIFORNIA
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors; salary $50.00 to $125.00 per
month, according to the population of the County; allowance for traveling

expenses, $25.00 per month. This system is in effect in only about one-
third of the Counties. In addition the Board of Fish and Game Commis-

4

sioners appoints a number of deputies at $75.00 per month, but this com-
pensation is regulated by the Board and not by the statute.

CONNECTICUT
Appointed by Commissioners; fee of $10.00 in case of conviction.
FLORIDA

Appointed by the Governor on recommendation of County Commis-
sioners (on request of 75 free holders) ; salary not exceeding $60.00 a month.

GEORGIA

Appointed by Commissioners; compensation $3.00 per day during time
of actual service, payable from the game protection fund. The County
Wardens, in addition to receiving a per diem, are entitled to three-fourths
of the fine where they make the arrest and furnish all the evidence, and
one-fouth of the fines where they do not furnish the evidence necessary
to convict.

ILLINOIS

One for each County, appointed by the Commissioner; compensation
not exceeding $2.00 per day, necessary traveling expenses and one-half of
all fines in cases where they file complaints. In addition to its County
Wardens, Illinois has 16 State or District Wardens under salaries of $900.00
per annum and necessary expenses. It also provides for the appointment of
special wardens who receive half the fines in cases in which they file
complaints.

KANSAS

Appointed by State Warden on request of 10 resident tax payers; fee
of $10.00 collected as costs of defendent in case of conviction.

KENTUCKY

Appointed by the County Judges; compensation residue of all fines
in cases prosecuted by them after the payment of costs.

MICHIGAN

Appointed by the State Warden; compensation such as County Super-
visors provide. This State has 10 deputy Game, Fish and Forestry Wardens
at $1,000.00 per annum and trayeling expenses, and a Chief Deputy at a
salary of $1,800.00 per annum and. traveling expenses of $1,200.00. Other
deputies receive $3.00 per day and traveling expenses.

MISSISSIPPI

Appointed by Board of Supervisors on recommendation of 10 or more
citizens; compensation fixed by Board of Supervisors, paid from County
forest and game protective fund made up of all license fees.

NEVADA

Appointed by. Board of County Commissioners on petition of 20 resident
tax payers; salary $20.00 to $100.00 per month, payable from the Fish and
Game Preservation Fund, but in case of deficiency, from’ the General Fund
of the County.

NEW MEXICO

Appointed by Territorial Warden; compensation one-half of fines in
cases prosecuted or instituted by them.

NORTH CAROLINA
Various provisions in the different Counties.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Chief Warden is authorized to appoint deputies at a salary of not
to exceed $1,200.00 and expenses of $600.00 per annum.
TENNESSEE

Appointed by State Warden; compensation all fines, etc., in cases pro-
secuted by them.
VERMONT

Appointed by the Commissioner; compensation not exceeding $75.00
a month or $3.00 per day and actual expenses. In addition to County
Wardens, Deputy Wardens may be appointed at $2.00 per day and necessary
expenses.
VIRGINIA

Magisterial District Warden appointed by the Circuit Judge on appli-
cation of five resident freeholders; conipensation, $2.50 assessed against
defendants in each conviction.

WASHINGTON

Appointed by County Commissioners (upon application of 100 tax
payers) ; salary, $25.00 to $100.00 per month, paid from the game protection
fund of the county.

WISCONSIN

Selected by Board of Appointment (consisting of the County Judge,
District Attorney and County Clerk) and appointed by State Warden; com-
pensation fixed by appointing Board and paid from the County Treasury.
The State has-a regular force of not to exceed 60 Deputy Game Wardens,
one from each Senatorial District and half appointed from the State at
large. The salaries are fixed by the State Warden. The salaries are now
eraded according to character of work and vary from $2.50 to $4.00 per day.

WYOMING ;

One or more for each County, appointed by State Game Warden (sub-
ject to approval of State Game Commission) ; compensation, $3.00 per day
during time of actual service.

—16—

Financial Statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection
of Birds, Game and Fish, from August, 1910, date of incorporation, to June
30, 1911, inclusive.

RECEIPTS
Salles ot: blumibimos INCenses =e 2s 8 sec teene o75,05 0.00
Galle: of Mishima “UsCOMSS:cc2 cccascte cc etnies 5,630.00
Salevok olmimmolne: (WICCNSCS = ttm eel pecan ee 1,683.00
Salexot Oyetenine «OperavlOnS =... ee eee 6,459.50
Sale or Oyster Rentals. si. a one 12,814.10
Paps Oliees MEG CEM) lca OVSLGLS cat acc cece eee reer 19,682.24
Balance from Old Board of Commissioners... 2,648.56
INST SCG IS eT SY OR le ede re 4,306.90
Rotel we. eee Fee ee $129,081.86
EXPENDITURES

ACTEM TSP Pilea Stree eet een ek ee re re oc eer § 53,450.41
Oreber= lnspeetorss ws alamles. ie we. sneer eget 7,479.10
annem, Salariesicand: SUpPleS 2.028 a ea 11,374.08
Oyster Wepantineny alates: ee. 2 ree ete eee 7,749.90
(ise ASIII EIST: ai a NE Se cena ieee rene ene er ce 10,791266
Micheres Mepariment Salaries... 2 gee reer 1,572.20
CO) itso eel sea INS Se ee ce ere rae 3,603.49
Wiokeep, of -Waunches: 2.2222 pee Ol nr etree 5,928.07
arena tprn er earls UE LON CT yee ace eres 1,802.78
Woniser vat Ole VON Ker eee eee a ee eater Be Olea)
aim cecurucle Mi rsilny wy aN ieee te a cer areeeen eae 842.16
orale ee ae eee Pree ee eee ae eee nes 441.58
C@ommuaissioners: MHixpenses: = 2 sos et ee 484.00
esi Cra NCC UUs eee ee ee eee 562.06
Surveys, on .Oyster Reeis te 2,198.46
Billsor Old. Oyster’ Commission. 2 14,785.06
$126,626.7

Ay ell ear eee es Tr ees A eset ere rey erent eee 2,455.15

Financial Statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection
of Birds, Game and Fish, from July 1st, 1911, to December 31st, 1911.

RECEPITS

Sale of Hunting Licenses and Other Receipts in

Crane sey arm CIN a a eee ee rere ete eterno $39,275.32
Oyster wa Cpe GIn Mee area eect cree teers cs eee eee eee 26,270.23
Hiresihy aVerten Denar mene 23. lt he onan eees 3,652.50
ald, NaLere We PARLINCI a2: tale oe a eaineen eteeca ee 2,046.00
71,244.05

Balance an: Bank, July iste eee tee 2,455.15
$73,699.20

EXPENDITURES

Wardens Salaries, amd Expenses esc cccciscccccssscteetonreeunttemtinccas Soo Wlenany
OnstensDenartimenmt Sallamies 52sec facnccarcsatt nner eee ee 9,883.13
ihaunche salaries and NW pkeep 2 ae eee 13,598.97
Office Salaries .... = OpL 76:65
OiicesMxpenses te: ancMnn cee kee nia 0 ee eae 6,077.28
Wish Department Salaries amd. . Wxperses nese. esc ecccecsneccesseeecet 2,949.98
Ganie s@ omsery a toms. ee ee ae a ee ee 959.66
IHhistnry CONSE TW ALON jects eee es ee ete 327.77
5,159.19

1 Yes il Me ater terra Ne eet PPE Nn ce eee 1,459.99

Since the organization of the Oyster Commission in 1902, and the Board
of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish in 1908,
there have been taken from the funds of these two Boards and paid into
thé State Treasury, a total amount of $90,632.99, out of which the General
Assembly made appropriations as follows:

FROM THE OYSTER COMMISSION:

1906 Court Costs in Boundary Suit (Approximately )............ $12,000.00
1907 Deposited with the State Treasurer for credit of the

Coodphogds.and! School Hund 232s ee TOLOS 72D
1907 Paid Special Attorneys, Dymond & Zacherie, in
Boundary Suit as per Act 143 of 1906... 30,000.00

1908 Paid to the State Board of Engineers in part pay-
ment of buoys marking the boundary line between
the States of Louisiana and Mississippi 3,000.00

From THE Board OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE
PROTECTION oF BIRDS, GAME AND FISH:

1909 Deposited with the State Treasurer to the credit of
the General Fund by Act of the Legislature of 1909, 30,000.00
1910 Paid Doullet & Williams, Contractors, balance due
on construction of buoys marking the Mississippi-
ouisianae boundary line ee ee. 5,575.48

Gren eee eel eee ae $90,632.99

S192

Act 265 of 1910 creating this Board, stipulated that we should prepare
a printed annual report, the same to include an estimate of proposed expen-
ditures and expenses for the two ensuing years. We therefore bee to state
that in order to develop the natural resources of the State committed to
our care on a scale commensurate with their importance we wi!l need the
following sums of money:

Two Pish Hatcheries: i.c. cic 1 2.000200
Wie BiOlOSG s SPACLOU fo ccccecccccaetsitsestenccteeareceeccteersdtcceescrseeetereteece 5,000.00
Triangulation Work, at least... 25,000.00
One Large Power Boat... (re 11,000.00
Ome Small Power Bate. ccccccccccecssccssscQecseetessteneetveneee 3,000.00
iiCe on ell Kaa lac ot 0 Fl (00s eee ae ee eee ee 3,000.00
Came owls? Bi ee ace iterate eee ea 2,000.00

Work in Plaquemines Parish on Ovster Resource 75,000.00
| ;

—$#149,000.00

ANNUAL WAGES EXPENDITURES

OinGe We pamtineMiy 5c cseaeeecasaus rene ttaacteenpeste $ 19,880.00
Gramme De pate er ee 68,400.00
Oyster Wena rinie lic ..agas secs cnte et ain: coe 16,680.00
Birsih: al) ep arvcimeM tps ce ca cent ee eee 3,700.00
MS ent De at GCM er pee eee tern ee 18,520.00
Moral aor Ones wea ee $128,180.00
Motal tor wor Years... —$256,360.00

OTHER EXPENDITURES

RU KCep le ORS 2a ogee ees $ 7,000.00
GIRS Auee CMOS yextac eee eee ie eee re aeeee ae ee — 8,000.00
Printing, Stationery and Postage.......... Poe ner vere tee 3,000.00
Commissioners HXpenses .......::cccecc ae 500.00
SVD ON GHEY epee ee ee Re eee 1,000.00

otal Hor Ome: Vee ar setctecs cates $19,500.00

Total fOr Two. YCat Se cecscsc-cscsveccsceson — 39,000.00
Estimated Expenditure for Two Years............... $444,360.00

—20—

ESTIMATED VALUE OF ASSETS
OYSTER RESOURCES

AREA oF Goop BorroMs SUSCEPTIBLE OF CULTURE.

SI OTT Clete ee sete weet EE ee 146,500 Acres
WalenGiUCMUNMCS: once ere LZL.OOO =
AICHE SOM Poh cee es PSr000! =
atourche ss... 21 es gr ee Ie ee 3000 <<
Meme WONG nat soe ee ee. 1(22000=—"
Sime Wleinyet eee hee t 40
TETGYSTERE ee ie ea ae oe re me ile

ANA re ANTI MA t cee ee Ber ee eR A Min tee 900
@ameron: +28 eke Be Calas cov alk AB 500

41.961 Acres @ $1.00=$471,961.00

AREA OF NATURAL REEFS.

SURE SIRNAS heise os eee Soe eee 3,040 Acres
levee MTS Sk Parc nese 6,000 “
Genre OI Cm een ee ree rane Ue 3,200
Bee TeO ite a 4 ie ae i Be oe 500 **

TE Vasrinay CPN wes) BIS eee treet eae ie 50.000 “

62.720 Acres @ $3.00=$188,220.00
$660,181.00

GAME PRESERVES

13,000 Acres Vermilion Parish @ $5.00........... $65,000.00
30,000 Acres Plaquemines Parish @ 3.00......... 90,000.00
6,000 Acres Caldwell Parish @. 5.002... 30,000.00

—$185,000.00

HOUSES, ETC.

Cameron. 1 Station, 4) House..-5 7S Eee No Value
Ge hevlemte ume uO WeMOUISC ls a.k.a $1,200.00
colle te eli VOUSC gs eleanor ee ee 500.00
Waannloaiecs MMOMISCo aw ee eee OE ee centage 300.00
MG Cone MUVERTIIUMOSet eer ee eke 2100.00
Bxhabit: 2 ee AES een Sr Merah Ee =) 2500.00
$ 6,600.00
BOATS
16 Boats of Various Sizes......... ea ee) ee ice TR te IE 17,870.00

Grand Total Estimated Value of Assets......$869,651.00

=

CHIEF SURYEYOR’S REPORT

To THE HONORABLE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR
THE PROTECTION oF BIRDS, GAME AND FISH.

Gentlemen :

In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the
following report:

By virtue of Act 189 of 1910, the Oyster Commission of Louisiana was
consolidated with the Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds,
Game and Fish, and new officers were appointed to administer its affairs.

The present Commission, immediately after its appointment and organi-
zation, set about to make a thorough investigation of the Oyster industry
of the State, and to inaugurate a new system of management.

The industry has, in the past two years, shown a consistent and satis-
factory growth. 4,451.38 acres of new bottoms were leased and 1,432,205
barrels of oysters were gathered. The crop of 1911 being 661,094 barrels
and that of 1912, 771,111 barrels—showing an incease of 110,017 barrels.

FACTORIES AND SHUCKING PLANTS

CANNING FACTORIES IN OPERATION.

No. Factories Oysters Canned
19 ta 5 308,313 barrels
1912 6 413,963 barrels

SHUCKING PLANTS oR RAw SHOps.

Oysters shucked

..Number and shipped
OD ape 352,781 barrels
1912 57 357,148 barrels

The shucking or opening of raw oysters for shipment out of the State
has developed and increased rapidly and is now a most important branch
of the industry.

PATROL BOATS

The boats “Louisiana”, “Royal Tern’, “Opelousas” and “Baton Rouge”
have rendered active and efficient service in patroling the waters of Lake
Borgne and Mississippi Sound.

SURVEY OF NATURAL REEFS

A survey was made of the natural reefs in the State during September,
October and November, 1910, and, in conformity with Section 6 of the
foregoing Act, the following reefs were set aside for public fishing and seed
purposes 5

St. Bernard Parish—Grand Pass, Creole Gap and Cabbage

FCC me rates Retetrn ee ae oe Min MARA ate ae 3,040 Acres

Plaquemines Parish—Quarantine and California Bays... 6,000 Acres
Terrebonne Parish—Point-au-Fer, Bay Junop and South and

MASt PALL Oly OIScen* Mau... ane eter eee 53,200 Acres

Cameron Parish—Mouth of Calcasieu River... 500 Acres

RG 28 Cea ee erent et pees SCI 62,740 Acres

HISTORY OF THE OYSTER LAWS OF STATE

The earlhest white settlers of Louisiana found oysters growing naturally
on the reefs and these were gathered for local consumption. Gradually these
persons, in answer to commercial demands, began to supply the New Orleans
market and those living too far from the reefs to personally fish their own
supply.

As the population increased and the demand grew larger, more people
engaged in the industry. It was soon learned, however, owing to the most
crude and wasteful manner of fishing and culling, that the supply was
gradually becoming exhausted and the reefs exterminated.

This created dissatisfaction and engendered discussion. Legal restric-
tions must be apphed to save the industry, was the consensus of opinion.

Accordingly, for the first time in the history of the State, the Legislature
was appealed to and in 1870 it passed Act No. 18, which made a close
season from April Ist to September 15th, and provided penalties for the
taking or fishing of oysters during this time.

In 1871, by Act No. 91, the close season was made from May lst to
September 5th.

The law embodied in these Acts was never enforced, and the depletion
and destruction of the reefs continued rapidly.

So in 1886, the Legislature was again applied to for relief and Act
No. 106 of that year was passed.

This Act authorized the leasing of water bottoms, not to exceed three
acres to any one person or corporation, the imposing of licenses and taxes
on boats and tongmen (one-half of the net amount derived from these rents,
licenses and taxes to be equally divided between the parishes and the State)
and placing the oyster industry of each parish in the absolute control of the
Police Jury of that parish.

This law was detrimental to the industry. The oysters within the
confines of a parish were considered the exclusive property of that parish and
eould be fished only by her own people, consequently frequent clashes occurred
between citizens of one parish entering that of another in search of market-
able oysters and seed for bedding purposes.

In 1892, this Act was superseded by Act No. 110 of that year which
made no change beyond increasing the area subject to lease from three (3
to ten (10) acres.

This Act was superseded by Act 121 of 1896. The only material change
made was to relieve from taxation oysters bedded on leased bottoms.

All of these laws were disregarded and fell into contempt. In the
meantime, the supply fell short of the demand as the natural reefs (the only
source of supply) were being depleted and destroyed.

New legislation was imperative, consequently the matter was discussed
in the Legislature during the sessions of 1900 and a Committee (three (3)
from the House and two (2) from the Senate) was appointed to examine
into the oyster industry of the State and to formulate a bill for its im-
eae and present same at the next session of the General Assembly.

The General Assembly which convened in 1902 received the report of the
Committee appointed in 1900. This report, coupled with recommendations
made by Mr. H. F. Moore of the United States Fish Commission, was the
basis of a general oyster law. The law was materially amended in 1904,
1906 and 1910, and as it now stands on the statute books.

— 23

Messrs. H. F. Moore and T. E. B. Pope of the United States Bureau
of Fisheries make the following comment on the present law in their “Oyster
Culture and Experiments and Investigations in Louisiana.”

“The fundamental feature of the new law was the creation of a State
Oyster Commission having sole jurisdiction, in oysters and cognate matters,
over the entire coast, insuring consistency and uniformity of administration,
and endowed with ample police powers to enforce the laws which under the old
regime were disregarded with impunity.”

The effects of the law were almost immediately apparent in the growth
of the oyster industry.

Prior to its passage jurisdiction over the oyster bottoms was, as noted
above, lodged solely in the Police Juries of the several coastal parishes, with
the result that the administration of the laws was contradictory and in-
effective. The potential wealth lying concealed beneath the tide waters
of the State was not appreciated and the oyster industry was neither pro-
tected nor fostered.

Partly on account of the unusually favorable natural conditions under
which the oyster industry is conducted in Louisiana, but largely by reason
of the protection which the laws accord to the natural beds and the en-
couragement which they extend to oyster culture, the oyster fishing of the
State has made extraordinary progress since the establishment of the Com-
mission,

In the five years preceding the enactment of the first oyster law, the
increase in the production, which was mainly from natural beds, was 20
per cent., while in the first five years following the passage of the act,
the increase was 154 per cent,

The natural beds of the State are now producing about two-fifths of
the output, while the remaining three-fifths are taken from planted beds.

The increase in the area of the bottoms leased since the enactment of
the present laws has been astonishing.

From 1885 to 1902, under parish administration, 521 leases, covering
2,820 acres had been executed, a great many of which had lapsed.

To-day there are 1,762 leases covering 17,072.94 acres.

Nature has been more bountiful to us in our water wealth than to any
State in the Union. Greater possibilities are here offered, in the oyster
industry, than elsewhere, but it will require persistent labor, intelligence,
and capital to properly develop this industry, and, more than all, proper
laws judiciously administered.

OYSTER CONDITIONS OF TO-DAY

The coast line of Louisiana, bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, comprises
the following oyster producing parishes: St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson,
Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, Iberia, Vermilion and Cameron. ‘Their
shores are largely indented with bays, lakes and bayous, where the tide ebbs
and flows daily, mixing the salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico with the
fresh waters of the Mississippi River, its tributaries, and other streams, thus
producing ideal conditions for oyster life and culture.

ST. BERNARD PARISH

This is the most easterly of the oyster producing parishes. It has an
area of 146,500 acres of oyster producing bottoms susceptible of oyster
culture—extending from the Mississippi boundary line on the North to
Plaquemines Parish on the South, and from the Chandeleur Sound on the
East to the zone where the water becomes too fresh to support oyster life.

Sys

This region is known as the “Louisiana Marsh.”

The largest natural reefs in the State, from a commercial viewpoint,
are located in this parish and are known as Creole Gap, Grand Pass and
Cabbage Reefs. These reefs, in the past, and are now supplying the stock
for the steam packing plants at Dunbar and Violet, also oysters for the raw
trade shipments.

Continual dredging and the lax enforcement of the culling laws has,
however, materially affected the output of these reefs.

The remaining beds in this parish, especially those in Bay Boudreau
and adjacent w aters have, up to the past two years, yielded large quantities
of oysters, principally for the raw trade and for the New Orleans market.
These beds have been overworked and are now practically depleted.

Large areas were formerly leased in this section—several 1,000 acres
each—but have since been abandoned by the lessees. Only a small portion
remains under cultivation and lease as shown by the following:

Number of acres under lease at present time 588.82
INumiber-o£ active, leases at preset. time... cece este 7
AWVCTAOE SIZE WOk ICHSE. MMe ACles ann. ieee toa eh at 34.63

Conditions are now changed. We have a liberal leasing law coupled
with the fact that the natural beds are becoming depleted and are unable
to supply the demand—hence the oystermen will be compelled to lease and
cultivate his own stock.

The waters of St. Bernard Parish offer excellent opportunities for the
cultivation of oysters on a large scale, especially for the steam packing trade.
The depleted reefs are now subject to lease and can, with care and cultivation,
be Be to yield large returns.

PLAQUEMINES PARISH

The water bottoms embraced in the area of this parish extend from St.
Bernard on the East to the East shore of Barataria Bay on the West and
on each side of the Mississippi River to its mouth, and contains 171,000
acres of oyster bottoms capable of producing oysters

The natural reefs in this parish are located in Quarantine and California
Bays. ‘The oysters on these reefs are of no commercial value, owing to
their dense growth, and can only be used when broken up and transplanted
to bottoms more favorable for their development.

The following shows the amount of bottoms now under lease in Plaque-
mines Parish:

Number of acres under lease at present timesc. ws. 6,404.08
Number of active leases at presémt (ime 2. 2e ci ee. 1,038
PAC EVO CMSTIAO MO VICASCy A ACTOS es tereccceectsinctetcemetrt cms oe 6.17

Here we find that the rentals have been paid promptly and a large per-

centage of leases are retained and worked. This is due:

Ist. To the absence of any public reefs of commercial value—
thus forcing cultivation on leased beds, thereby producing a
superior quality of oyster.

2nd. An active demand, with good prices, for oysters from this
territory by the New Orleans market.

The oyster industry in this parish is carried on more systematically than

mm any other ae of the State. A great many naturalized Austrians are
engaged in the business who devote their entire time to planting and gather-
ing oysters. Most of them live with their familhes in substantial louses
which they have built in close proximity to their bedding grounds.

OF

—— Wi -

JEFFERSON PARISH

This parish includes within its limits Barataria Bay (Grand Lake)
and adjacent waters extending to the West shore of Bay Tambour and Bay
des Islettes and contain 28,000 acres of oyster bottoms.

Natural Reefs—There are no natural reefs in this parish.

Barataria Bay (Grand Lake), Bay des Islettes and Bay Tambour at one
time contained large natural reefs, but these are now extinct.

The cause of destruction of these reefs appears to have been overfishing
probably by the Booth Company, who operated a cannery at Bayou Brulot,
some eighteen years ago, and the increased salinity of the water, due to the
improvement of the levee system which has decreased the volume of fresh
water flowing into the bay.

From observation, it is found that the water favorable for oyster life
and culture is moving inland along the coast line of the Parishes of
Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne. This is due to artificial changes in
the drainage system, levee improvements, closure of Bayou Lafourche and
the washing away of the chain of outlying islands extending from Grand
Island to Last Island. Oysters are now growing and leases have been made
in waters of Lafourche and Terrebonne which, six years ago, carried fresh
water at all times.

Up to 1906, no oysters were planted or cultivated in Jefferson Parish,
due to the foregoing conditions. In 1906, under the direction of Messrs.
Moore and Pope, Assistants, United States Bureau of Fisheries, who were
making experiments and investigations of the oyster bottoms of Louisiana,
the Oyster Commission of Louisiana planted 60 barrels of unculled oysters
at the upper end of Barataria Bay (Grand Lake) and Bayou St. Denis.

The planting of these oysters has resulted in the rehabilitation of the
oyster industry in that parish.

The upper part of Barataria Bay, North of Bayou du Fon, and adjacent
waters offers exceptional opportunities for oyster culture. Lying South of
Bayou du Fon, and extending to the Gulf, the water has become so salty
ae is so infested with the very destructive enemy of the oyster, the snail

borer, Purpura, that the fishermen have abandoned all of their claims
in this area.

In order to rehabilitate this area, which is now barren, it will be
necessary to reduce the salinity or density of the water by fresh water from
the Mississippi River. This can be accomplished by building a_ lock at
some favorable point on the river.

The expense of such an undertaking would be amply repaid in making
productive a very large area of the finest bottoms in the State.

Water bottoms under lease and cultivation in Jefferson Parish

Number of acres under lease at present time... 527.42
Number of active: leases:-at-presembi-time. 2s. ae ae 59

Average size of lease in acres
The planting of shells for cultch is carried on in this parish more
extensively than in any other part of the State. The fishermen, from
interviews with them, state that the cost of bedding shells is much_ less
than that of transplanting oysters and the results are far more satisfactory.

LAFOURCHE PARISH

The oyster regions of Lafourche includes part of Caminada Bay, Lake
Raccourci and Timbalier Bay.
Natural Reefs—There are no natural reefs in this parish.

2= oR

The beds at one time existing in Caminada Bay are now extinct and
in the same condition as those in the waters of Jefferson Parish.

The reefs in Timbalier, which at one time furnished employment for
a large number of fishermen and supphed oysters for transplanting on the
leased beds in Plaquemines and Lafourche Parishes, are now practically
extinct. These reefs were destroyed by overfishing and the removal and
transplanting of unculled oysters to private beds, also by the ravages of the
snail or borer, due to the closure of Bayou Lafourche.

The closure of Bayou Lafourche has destroyed a large area of oyster
producing bottoms in this region. It had hitherto supphed the fresh water
that sustained oyster life, but since its closure the water in Timbalier Bay
has become so densely saline as to inhibit the growth of young oysters.

Lafourche Parish has 3,000 acres of oyster bottoms susceptible of oyster
culture. ;

The following shows leases made and acreage now under cultivation in
Lafourche :

‘Number of acres under lease at the present time...........-- 397.01
iINomiber o£ active leases at present time... 39
PNVEGAMeNSIZCLOL LCAS@) WMCACICS. cs le nsf cee cece ete viscose 13.40

The principal leases and beds are now located in Lake Raccourci, which
six years ago was fresh water, and the West shore of Timbalier Bay.

Lafourche Parish was at one time a large oyster producing parish, but
at the present time very few oysters are cultivated there and the outlook
for an increased output is not very encouraging unless fresh water through
Bayou Lafourche can be secured.

TERREBONNE PARISH

The oyster producing bottoms of Terrebonne extend from the West
shore of Timbalier Bay on the East to the Atchafalaya Bay on the West,
including Point-au-Fer Reef, and contains 122,000 acres of oyster reefs and
oyster bottoms susceptible of cultivation.

Natural Reefs—The natural reefs, exclusive of Point-au-Fer, are located
in Bay Junop and Sister Lake.

The oysters on these reefs are of a rather inferior quality and shape,
being somewhat of a racoon type. Unculled oysters are taken extensively
from them for transplanting on private beds in Terrebonne, Jefferson and
as far East as Bayou Cook in Plaquemines. They are beginning to show
the effects of overfishing, and stringent measures should be taken to enforce
the culling laws in order to preserve and perpetuate them.

Point-au-Fer Reef at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River is the largest
natural reef in the State—containing approximately 50,000 acres. The
oysters on this reef are of no commercial value due to their present crowded
state and are worthless in their present condition. ‘They never reach mar-
ketable size as they are destroyed annually by fresh water during the high
stages of the Atchafalaya River.

Shells for cultch have been used to a limited extent in this parish,
but the planters depend almost entirely on the natural reefs for their supply of
seed, and instead of assisting in the perpetuation of the natural oyster supply
they aid in its depletion and destruction.

Terrebonne offers the greatest possibilities for oyster culture. It has
a large area of fine bottoms and depleted reefs, which can now be leased
under the present law and built up and cultivated with young oysters taken
from Point-au-Fer Reef.

The following shows leases and acreage now under cultivation in
Terrebonne :

Number of acres under lease at the present time.............. 9,051.05
Number of active leases at present tlie .iieceecccccccccccccssseccseeeelee 513
AVERAGE SIZe “On ease aM ACTOS 2 a2 cia. t cnet care ee relia

ST. MARY, IBERIA, VERMILION AND CAMERON PARISHES

These parishes have been classed as oyster producing parishes, but in
a true sense they are not.

Efforts have been made to cultivate oysters in St. Mary, Iberia and
Vermilion, but with little success, and at the present time only Vermilion
has any leased bottoms, which comprises three (3) leases aggregating 104.56
acres.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The following epitomizes the results of the foregoing:

LEASED Borroms.

Parish Number of Leases Acreage
St. Bernard Ly 588.82
Plaquemines 1,038 6,404.08
Jefferson 59 527.42
Lafourche 32 397.01
Terrebonne bile 9051.05
Vermilion 3 104.56

Total 1,762 17,072.94
Average s1Ze@ Of lease By ares esc ecec cc ccccceccesctccnctecececneereeessel ede 9.69

Total water bottoms, comprising leased areas, natural reefs, and bottoms
susceptible of oyster culture :

Parish Acres
ibe mip Ci wand wewea, tee eats, een oe a i a, ote eee 146,500
Plaquemines eel, 000
Sei TeS OT heeee eee weet ee ee. re Na tac in, hee ates Oe 28,000
IES eat ap UI Cea ee seen se oe ogee ye e nes 3.000
iherrebonne 2... Se. Sax ee Sn re, Pn nec 122,000
BW Geire rani lily Tite pees oes os eR eS INET cual le y. WaO ae ere 962
annie Ones ee eee oe Re ee A pete he are ena Bs 500

AADC Wk Renee Suelo oS Ren eT eet et mie nace tae 471,962

62,740 acres of natural reefs are comprised in this total area (allowing
50,000 acres for Point-au-Fer). Deducting this, there remains 409,222 acres
of bottoms adaptable to ovster culture. Of this area your Commission can
only figure on 10 per cent., or 40,000 acres ever being leased and cultivated
due to the following:

Ist. While the water has the proper density for the propagation

of oysters, the greater part of the bottoms are very soft and
can only be utilized by building them up—a most expensive
undertaking.

2nd. The insufficiency of food in the water to support oyster life
on such large area.

a8,

3rd. The law of supply and demand which regulates the oyster

industry as it does everything else.

While the revenues derived from the several sources of the industry
are more than ample to meet all expenses attached to the policing and _ pre-
serving of the reefs, the Oyster Department of your Commission can not
at any time in the future yield a very large revenue to the State. The
conditions do not justify it nor can you expect it.

The indirect benefits derived from this industry, however, will be
enormous. ,

It will give employment and livelihood to a large number of our people.

It will bring into the State, from the sale of its products, several
million dollars annually, which will circulate through the channels of trade—
thus benefiting every citizen of the State.

FRANK T. PAYNE,
Chief Surveyor.

=o

L. J. DOSSMANN, Supr. Oyster Depr.
C. 5. E. BABINGTON. - — Secretary.
AMOS L. PONDER - - AtTroRNEY,
FRANK T. PAYNE, Cuter Surveyor.

HENRY JACOBS, In CHarceor Exuisrr

LIST OF GAME AND FISH WARDENS

/NGANO UIE ceeeaeeeetin pai Oo ChuschsPomt..2.... ees Maurice Barousse.
LENSY SLES ATSAUG) 0 Uae ee eae ae cer ElopesVallas 282s ae W. P. Dixon.
PSS UNIO UL OMS one seteecs setae Belle Most... ee ae Chas. Alonzo.
BAGONG LCS nfs crectsstinctstn cic ome IB rid oe Soest es HE. M. Bordelon.
1 ESIehoT ya ee cesarean ee TaNT G72) G1 a eee nue ere eens Dzereaseal J. W. Allen.
Bossier eslanmaDealamo. on. ieee knees J.B. Johnston.
RoE. D. 2 , Box 5
(CEC IGG: eee aale eenanmeoeere Bulemclia dict 2 tk ek ee Chas. W. Wasson.
SMTEVe WOR bates uae Wm. E. Monkhouse.
allege lets cea wh Nes Me balker Charl osc trae! coe eee Sam/’l E. Spence.
Watkcey Avril ete ee ee T. Landry.
AVQiiLo (0) 0 heehee teens laste ert cetera Jerry Corethers.
Dekwiddler42s:5. ar et Anes M. Jones.
(O51 10 (2) eee olin ieee ee es ee W. A. Davis.
Cameron Camere =. S:.2 ee See M. W. McCall.
@amenonen ss ate Ae eet A. P. Welch.
JOMMSOMSABAV OU eee J. B. Erbelding.
@airalnoul Gece Sieily island: PS Obes Ed. Diseh:
Clan OTM 6 ec PACD GING tae 8 or at ten teen oe J. HE. Gandy.
Goncordia. ..22ia.. eee ts IMMO ICRC Veena reek ee Walter S. Burley.
IDSC eee ee (O00) co SE Ar ee ae ae ee T. S. Bates.
Hast Baton Rouge................. Baton nROUme!. a2. a AL A. D. Bryan.
Baton Rouge ER Rad Bien J. D. Garig.
Heist ane OU: oe eae Lake Providence..c:cccceeene G. R. Newman.
Wast Heliciama:..2...e. GiiUnIe] nye eee eR eee PS Thos. 8. Reily.
JEU s2) Gh os earcpee eee enna WV Sill MPL aU GCk ss. Weer cee Yorick Vidrine.
TENE) CU cel 0 eee ees eee ee Crow ules. cai 82 en een Wis 1s Eair.
(CTP Gale re ee Se iris eae ache ct en ee T. C. Linceum.
IL GST eee a ee nee eae New Iberia, Box 203.................... Eraste C. LeBlanc.
1 Joes ere Neaenecennereees ee emnen e SisGabricl = nee AL DS Gueymard:
PACKS OMe: 2h ek el NET OMe tc colon mM ak J. T. McDowell.
DleMeOTSOMe 22. ha ee cae Westweros20 a Henry Gardey.
I DESHI era ne BNI) Ghia een eR eh J. DD, Bradtord:
Watayettes.222 cael CAneMen Os ak oe Maurice Francez.
Watourche..2..2000 nee Ahan oda wx 2 ee ee O. Angelloz.
BAAN OS COM ea tet els Denham Sprimes. 2 #.- J. D. Barnett.
Hew Colin ee ee 2 CR WUSGOees net ee eee H. O. Warren.
Madison te oe UB Gna ere eo we ae So A. N. Andrews.
DEH UT Naik eee ee eee ee .Chas. Coltharp.
Morehouse aiid s.ce8 es IB OMibat ete. omen ae a if A. B. Calhoun.
Natchitoches. 0k. mn. Natelintochesi.2e. as. P. C. Rogers.
Goldiomivas. = 25 eee Jas. H. Weaver.
Orleans. 5 ee GM SWOmete itso eos hee: H. Audler.
Gailishiram Cen Sis ee. Mees Andrew Decosas.
746 Louisiana Ave..................-- Jno. L. Hubert.
Chet:Menteure 229.9. 08 Jos. Schaneville.
@uachitia2- i222 Seerlimotomee ss fae W. C. Steele.
Plaquemines Lee Soler re 2S Genet Fie. ae cus ee G. T. Smith.
PomberCoupees =. a..2.5.2. ING Wa OadS:4 seed ek Jules Patin.
1 ESf2) O10 2} Nene eee gente. Sok Alexandria, Route No. 2......... W. L. Duncan, Jr.
I BXO (Come, Ae ete, Sone ees J. His Raye
ded Raver. 2. json: @oustnaiital ics ae ae WwW. H. W almsley.

1Sticelad eine eee eee = emer ame PeTVaValll Genet ae cs Rome eeee arte M. H. Stevenson.

Sabine................ _L4wolle ie Ba Gane

St. Bernard HSU O OME nate as eee ence Ferdinand Bel.

lice (Ga 2) heey arene cee setae BOW el acs. eee ort ae et Wm. Cadow.

St ablellema sees. a. CrECCMS UNO eee eee eae Amos Addison.

re ANDES eee eaten ts eA) Lh OT a ee eer aes Aeneas Petr Morgan Roussel, Sr.
Vacherie ..Cyriaque Granier.

St. John the Baptist............ Wdiear abs Oise ee ate Miles Chauvin.

Sia UGHACD gee eee neem Nisa cutie iil eee ere corenerenmas oem M. P. Stagg.

bad LE i eee ae re Sty Memtimvalle coro anes K. A. Davis.

ite Waiver Hee ees BerwiGhet Sse = eo te ae A. Gilmore.

Sseged DEW an a gE 0 Areas oe (GTo ia waa woh ul eaesgeeme eee tere eee Anatole P. Beaucoudray.

dvamenpahioa seve. Lee Amite......... 2 Vic] Sprime:

MIS As eee en ete creeks peli C0) s\ =) 0) 0) sete etre resem Aor Chas. Johnston.

AUeh eiize) oven sucle temenewerermen meee 6 0) aca sae eee Romane eh G. A. Breaux.

{(G)ic tri al eee saat eect er aeaereer VI IRNOIA Sate eh eese nee is G... Wi" Cox:

Wier million 22 tn a Ap beville cn. eeceseeutinse Otis Hoffpauir.
Histor terug eee cca J.-S: White.

Vernon Wneesvallllies o25 en oe Be De Gi Worner:

Wisishime tom... es. Bateman GOIN eae cree eee EK. L. Magee.

WIGDSWSI eae onte eae is A Gi al(G =o Pecan eres ees aan eter Connel Fort.

West Baton Rouge.................. pl) Ul ice] Gara eae: ee Rca overcame Allen Mouch.

WrestiCarroll: 2.5 anndten Val MG RO yee 3 eet ke G. A. Schrock.

West Feliciana......................-- Bree Landa ceccccsc Oe le dohoyd.

AVIV GY 1 ee see eee MOTE ONC T Yeeros eae John H. Neal.

Rh. F..D: Box No. 72.

vw

a

Fite Jounstings are shown im black and yive denthy in Wot

Dense gf ents of oysters are shown thus ,
WSeottered = - - - - .
vey = +

OYSTER BEDS

OF

ST. BERNARD PARISH, LA,

Se

* / =
BS AND THE

BOUNDARY LINE

between the States of Louisiana and Mississipp/
& from Surreys made by the US Fish Commission

and the Commission for the Protection of Birds,

Gameand Fish.
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