than 2, 000, 000 pounds, with a value of more than $1, 500, 000. These
gains reflect the swift development, since the early 1950's, of an impor-
tant soft-shell clam fishery, now producing more than 60 per cent of the
entire United States catch; a slight increase in finfish production, with
record catches of rockfish in 1960 and 1961, and a substantial rise in
the volume and value of the crab catch.

These encouraging trends, however, have been partially offset by a
continuation of the long-term decline in the oyster yield. Because of the
alarming decline in the too-long-neglected oyster industry, the State's
main effort during the past three years has been directed toward the
rehabilitation of its oyster resources. Using for the first time hydrau-
lically dredged reef shells, nearly 17, 000, 000 bushels of cultch have been
planted on the natural bars and in areas set aside for the production of
seed oysters. This exceeds by several million bushels the total plantings
of the preceding 10-year period.

I would point out to you that this is no haphazard operation. The
results obtained this year illustrate the wisdom not only of the program
but of the manner in which it is being carried out. Spring transplanting
of seed oysters from the state seed areas was preceded by a careful inven-
tory, involving sampling at more than 100 stations. The Department of
Tidewater Fisheries reports to me that, on the basis of that inventory, it
predicted that 500 to 550 thousand bushels of seed were available. Seed
areas, the Department reported, were subdivided into sections, and each
section was harvested until spat counts fell to the acceptable minimum.
As a result, 573, 000 bushels of high quality seed were transplanted,
where they eventually will provide an additional income of more than
$2 million to the State.

The quantity of seed oysters transplanted by the State thus far in 1962
is more than double that produced in any year of the past decade. And
in addition, some 400, 000 bushels of seed have been imported by private
planters from the James River of Virginia, closely supervised by the
Department of Tidewater Fisheries to insure freedom from MSX which
has decimated oyster populations in neighboring states.

These efforts, I say, provide the proof that your State government is
working, and working effectively, to rehabilitate and revitalize the
oyster industry of Maryland.

The Department of Tidewater Fisheries has just completed a pre-
liminary survey of approximately 90 per cent of the shells which were
planted on natural bars and in seed areas during this year. On the

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