of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 295

that the number of admissions in the next two years should be considerably
increased.

CONSERVATION

Maryland enjoys natural possessions of land and water that richly
deserve to be treasured. A bountiful Providence has given to our State
immeasurable sources of wealth and the necessities of life to be found in the
Chesapeake Bay, in our rivers and streams, in the soil and in our forests.

With these valuable treasures has come a distinct obligation. It is not
amiss to call it a sacred obligation. By this is meant that we owe it to our
fellow citizens and, not less, to generations yet to come, to guard carefully and
to utilize wisely the natural resources which otherwise could be wasted and
dissipated.

The attitude of the present administration is to encourage the use of these
resources so that our people can enjoy and be benefited by them. Particularly
do I refer to the fact that a great number of our citizens, notably in the tide-
water sections, are dependent upon the natural resources for their livelihood.
It is obvious that the interests of these citizens must be safeguarded and, at
the same time, long-range planning must be invoked so that for years to come
there will be no depletion from which future citizens would suffer.

The Conservation Department, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Edwin War-
field, Jr., has been diligent in its effort to accomplish betterment for the water-
men as well as for the general public.

Following are some of the accomplishments of this Department in the last
two years:

Strict enforcement of crab laws pertaining to peeler floats has reduced
mortality and effected a tremendous saving in crabs.

Strict enforcement of the cull law has raised the quality of Maryland
oysters and we feel that the increased demand and higher prices that the
industry is now enjoying, are traceable at least in part to this action. The
first three months of the 1940 season have shown an increased yield of 163, 970
bushels over the same period of 1939, which would seem to indicate that retain-
ing the small oysters on the bottom last year had boosted the production this
season.

A system of records of the conditions on Bay bars and of the results of
the shell-planting operations, has been established to furnish a more intelligent
basis for future handling of our oyster farming problems.

Based on the above, proposed legislative changes have been studied and
prepared designed to improve both the dredging and shell-planting operations.

A careful study has been made of the serious depletion in the shad and
herring fishery. Committees of commercial fishermen have been organized to
work with the Department. As a result of these studies and conferences, it is
hoped that legislation can be formulated and introduced in this session of the
Legislature which, if adopted, will be the means of initiating the recovery of
our seriously depleted shad and herring fishery.

A conference between committees of Maryland and Virginia packers, the
Conservation authorities of the two States and representatives of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, has resulted in the adoption of a specific pro-