to resolve this problem. I provided in my budget at the legislative
session this year funds for that purpose. The states must work closely
together on this problem. All of us appreciate the help we are getting
from the federal government.

Our problems are manifold, but we in Maryland refuse to be dis-
couraged.

One of my first acts as Governor was to reorganize our department of
Tidewater Fisheries. The new Commission I appointed effected a new
and entirely different departmental grouping, broadening the scope of
its work with the industry generally, and with the watermen in par-
ticular. We have established a development program in which we
expect to coordinate all our efforts toward rehabilitation of our oyster
supplies.

In some respects we have moved slowly, because it is not our inten-
tion to proceed more rapidly than we can educate our people to an
understanding and acceptance of our plans. But even so, we have made
more rapid progress than we expected.

The Commission began by holding public meetings in each county.
We wanted to learn by direct communication how the watermen felt—
what suggestions they might have to offer. We told them frankly what
we hoped to do to help them earn a better living. The response was
instantaneous and favorable. I believe these meetings have contributed
more than any other one factor to the confidence the watermen have in
what the State is trying to do.

Time does not permit a recital of all we are doing in Maryland to
rehabilitate our shellfish industry, but I should like to list a few of the
steps we have taken:

1. We have established a Division of Markets in the Department of
Tidewater Fisheries to create new markets for our products, to establish
liaison with health departments of big cities and other states and to
work with other states, and especially Virginia, to protect our markets
against excessive encroachment of foreign products.

2. We plan to grow large quantities of seed oysters through large-
scale planting of shells, amounting to millions of bushels annually. We
almost despaired of being able to do this because of the scarcity of
shells, but happily the discovery of shells in dead reefs provides us with
an ample supply..

3. A special committee of the General Assembly is meeting with our
Commission this summer in a study of the needs for a modification of

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