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The State Board of Conservation was created in 1933 (Ch. 16178, Laws) and replaced the State Shell Fish Commission, the State Department of Game and Fresh Water Fish and the State Geological Survey. The Board consisted of the Governor of Florida, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Comptroller, the State Treasurer, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. The board included six divisions: Administration; Salt Water Fisheries; Water Resources and Conservation; Waterways Development; Geology; and Beaches and Shores. The board's functions were combined with the functions of the Canal Authority; the Commission on Marine Sciences and Technology; the Florida Keys Aqueduct Commission; the Board of Parks and Historic Memorials; the Outdoor Recreational Development Council; the Board of Drainage Commissioners; and the Suwannee River Development Authority to create the Department of Natural Resources in 1969 (Ch. 69-106, Laws).
The State Board of Conservation had exclusive power and control over all beds and bottoms of navigable rivers, bayous, lagoons, lakes, bays, sounds inlets, oceans, gulfs, and other bodies of water within the jurisdiction of the State Florida. The board leased water bottoms for the purpose of giving the exclusive rights to plant oyster or clams to "any person or persons, firm or corporation, irrespective of residence or citizenship, and upon such terms, conditions and restrictions as the said Board may impose, and without limitations as to the number of acres of such water bottoms which any person or persons, firm or corporation may lease, hold, or control."
Summary:
This series consists of leases and accompanying surveys between the State Board of Conservation (and its predecessor State Shell Fish Commission) and Cultivated Oyster Farms Corporation of Duval County for water bottoms in Franklin County, Pinellas County, Duval County and Brevard County from 1914 to 1993. The leases contain information about the cost of the lease, including the down payment and annual fees, and the amount and location of the land being leased.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available. 0
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Other records relating to the issuance and monitoring of oyster leases can be found in Series S1164: Canceled Oyster Lease Case Files, 1913-1980; and Series S1167: Oyster Lease Journals, 1913-1983.
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Florida. State Board of Conservation.
Aquaculture Florida. Aquaculture industry Florida Oyster industry Florida Waterways Florida.
Plats. aat Surveys. aat Agreements. aat
Brevard County (Fla.) Pinellas County (Fla.) Duval County (Fla.) Franklin County (Fla.)
for detailed listing.