strong effort it is making to promote this vital segment of Maryland's
economy. From all the reports I have received, your organization
already has achieved remarkable success in this field. The enthusiasm
which I see at this dinner is evidence that even greater successes may
be expected in the years ahead.

The Business Research Division of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company publishes an interesting and valuable booklet
periodically called "Business in Maryland, " summarizing the eco-
nomic condition of our State. In its October, 1964 issue, there is a
section on the seafood industry, and among other things, it has this
to say:

"Unlike some industries, Maryland's seafood industry has been
affected very little by technological advances. Processing, packing and
preserving is done on a small scale and much of the work is by hand

And then it goes on to say this: "The demand for seafood, which
has not kept pace with population growth, could probably be ex-
panded by further promotional activities. "

These are facts of which you in the industry, and we in government,
are aware. We know that the demand for seafood has not kept abreast
of the rapid growth in population which the country is experiencing.
We know that if the industry is to be developed to its full potential
the demand for seafood products must be stimulated. That is the ob-
jective of this Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association. That,
I hasten to add, is also an objective of your State government and
its departments and agencies which function in this field.

The reports I have been receiving on the oyster catch this fall have
been most heartening. Oyster biologists of the Department of Chesa-
peake Bay Affairs and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory are con-
ducting their annual fall survey of oyster bars and say that the sam-
plings they have been taking are most encouraging. In a news bulletin
the Department issued a little more than a week ago, an older tonger
was quoted as saying that he and his partner "tally around 18 bushels
a day, but the young, stronger men are putting out from 30 to 40
bushels at |4. 50 each. "

Fred Seiling, who is chief of natural resources management of the
Department of Chesapeake Bay Affairs, was quoted in the bulletin
as saying: "Now we see some excellent increases in the crop through
our oyster rehabilitating program begun in 1960. "

His reference, of course, was to the program which this Administra-

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