Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-01-13

n ztAsD t0ysrss TsaDr tn
'spess : peeis Hsnse Davidson. 60
.'ad ~ = A.syi.:d.
porssse isssrssti.e il -. -
ssrdisg gssss eyssss bs1s q Ne Uhes-
apesks I ~ 10 tribssaxies. ,saa Ne
oyster = -. Captain D.vidsoa sps.ks
a. The & - he eyss~ beas have ,os
receive v protection. ssd says:
The 1sr Il IT, Chssapsaks sxists ia
IL nssit md ssrulsivassd condition. asd
noas Il - hus sslasisg 10 it have pro-
sidsd g adequate means joe its rrcsss-
ton /; On The eoltrsry.. The general
eject bssa 10 opsa vids che door for
it's enel =. enabling a not only to prs-
diet IL befeass. but IL ssriy Destruction
a. ~ cls Of vholceiIs tzsds, in : fcv
yssss. "a the eoaseqssat leo q the d.
rect y = rsvsers thsss&oa.
!; Tsab ~ .sss = b. rssrs.ssl, q he
pssali1f s3aptsdnsss Il The 5sds Of the
Chssspee and - tsibsAasiss 70 he bro
pagaaeo1 grewsA Il he oyster, end
IL ~ 1srfsl uaaaral increase, vsald.
with erd parry care. sspply - . delightful
and nat hons article Of food 1t the ehsap-
cot fatsG land insure material iperesse
of The r. lie revenue Cor Ill time. Il i
e =: tsIesoss. sh.. our people
views which it viii Be evident originate
in local CO individual interests, whore
they cob0ict with the general good IN this
matter. and permit the enactment of .
Law restraining and regulating the pre-
sent thoughtless and improvidsnt indus
try that takes every oyster wherever
found, regardless of season, size or con-
ditiou. Captain Davidson suggests the
making Of observations q to the extent
and growth Of our oyster beds. to be EN-
bodied in the form Of photographic charts,
With marginal notes for distribution to the
counties. He says: This course, bring
ing the subject TO the attention of the peo-
pie. and giving them . comprehensive
view Of it. would 20 far towards reeouci-
ing the widely different opinions I have
heard expressed during the last two sea-
sons. which have caused ne to fear that
The oysssr will Be nearly destroyed be-
bre any Legislation cse Be Effected 10 ROM
sdy the evil.
Upon the conflicting interests of dredg.
ing and tongmsn the report dwells 1t
some length. advising limitation or pro.
mbition OF the one and the encouragement
Of the other. Dredging. Captain David
son says. represents the wealthy packers
Who employ large vessels, equipped for
al kinds Of weather and weeks Of service,
sho barrow the beds and destroy the oys-
ter. The tongmen are poor, use only
small boats, and do not injure the o7s-
ter beds. A gress cause OF trouble is that
tho dredgers will frequently invade the
inshors oyster beds reserved BY Law to the
tougmen. Captain Davidson advises he.-
vier penalties 70 keep the dredgers from
infringing the rights Of the tongmen, de-
clariug that the risk Of punishment should
be made greater than the inducement to
violate the Law. The Increasing de-
mand for the oyster. as IN article Of ex-
port. has stimulated the trade n the Ches-
apeake. that the oyssermon will risk al
most any weather. and overcome great
opposition. to enable them to reach the
handsome profits that are being of red in
the market !; and . convincing evidence
that their profits are great il shown in
the readiness With which these men nav
their fines.
In order to preserve our oyster beds IS
. permanent source Of revenue, aud to
supply the reasonable demands Of the
market. would earnestly recommend
that dredging be restricted 70 the period
frsm the 6rst Of Novsnbsr Of one year 70
the frst Of Mar Of tho psxt year, and
that the heaviest fines be imposed for
dredging 1t night-say from sunset 70
sunrise. Il 10 warmly argued BY psrsous
wbo are interested il the dredging bssi-
nss that that mode Of taking the oyster
improves it, condition and increases the
product ofthe beds. This has been true,
though only 10 . very limited extent !;
bat a. dredging is carried on at present
in the waters Of Maryland. quite the con-
trary effect is produced. Where the oys-
ter beds ara very thickly covered, aud a
later years growth is OVERLAPPING aud chek-
ing that Of former, (as is seen in Vir-
giuia. but not in Maryland. } 90 that this
process going on from year to year, is
forming on the beds what are called oys-
ter rocks-conglomerate masses of she'll
and marine deposit. frequently rising
from . depth of SO feet Of water to With
in few feet Of the surface. then to stop
this process. and Is . farmer would thin
and weed his plants. use the dredge aud
spread the beds, giving more space to the
oysters to feed and develop themselves.
is undoubtedly an advantage. Bu. when
this spreading and thinning has been done
sui6sisntly. and We look At the other ex-
treme, - 10 our waters, and find Eve hum
dred and sixty-shree vessels. each having
too dredgss. thas vhes flled weigh one
hundred and fhy pounds each, making
eleven hundred and sventy-six harrows,
dragged By vessels, some Of nearly sixty
tons burden, under full sail, over the beds
night asd day, without regard TO the size
OF condition OF the oyster, We can readily
see that the work 10 greatly overdone.
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