The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-02-12
Our Custer NUyay.

none bnt those employed in its service and sala-
ried by the State. 1t brings remuneration to
those only who participate in the gallant exploits,
incident to the many ertenSiUe cruises it makes,
during the round of twelve months, up and
down the length of our magnificent inland sea
The Chesapeake.
According to the report of Capt. Hunter Da-
wilson, commander of the State Oyster Police
Force, this terror (?) to those who violate the
oyster statutes of our State, consists Of "but
" one small, slow steamer, with which to visit
" twenty-five different oyster localities, scatter
led sometimes farapart, over tortuous routes the
extremes of which are one hundred miles
:" from North to South, by seventy-five from
" East to West" Capt. Davidson further states
in his report that this Zone small, slow steamer
4" is expected TO lie in every locality at intervals
" of few days, whereas about tpO months are
" required to make complete tour of insrec-
4" ton, taking into account the time consumed
" by the average number of arrests and trials"
'Those who are in the habit of violating the
law, keep the run of our movements by reg
" uar system of reports from one to another,
"and thus are often enabled TO escape punish
" ment for their offences"
Mark the recommendation alter such confes
sion. Capt. Davidson says that this ''shows
" that the force should be increased to proper
&" ton that acM eooer the field Of duty" Let US
examine ali the facts and figures belonging to
the history of this ''ruler of the waters''-this
Trident OF the Chesapeake, instituted to shield
from illegal molestation the repose of our oyster
beds, and see ifthey justify the recommendation to
increase the force as proposed. about two
q" months required TO make a tour of nspec-
"ton." According to this force sufficient to
''cover the field of duty would be six times the
extent of the present one This would necessa-
rily require six times the present expense Of our
inland marine espionage.
Will The income secured justify the investment?
We have at presnt zone small, slow steamer"
whose Commanding officer" receives 81, 500 per
snnum, whose chief mate receives 81, 200 per
annum, whose second mate receives 5000 per
arnum, whose chief engineer receives 81, 200,
whose assistant engineer receives 5000 per an
num- whose fremen and coal-heavers (three in
number, receive $500, each per month, whose
steward and cook receive $500 per month
each, and whose seamen (as many as shall be
necessary receive $500 per month each.
The Comptroler's report to the Legislature
shows the entire cost of this Zone small, slow
steamer" for repairs, salaries ofofcers and men,
and the equipments incidental TO its bi-monthly
visits to the various localities of our oyster beds
to be S2s, 1860. Ifyou adopt the recommen-
dation OF Capt. Davidson and enlarge the "Navy"
until it shall ''cover the field of duty" you
must necessarily multiply this expense by six,
and make it Sl69, 100 so per annum.
What revenue has the lone small, slow steam
" err brought to our treasury TO counter-bal-
ance ats cost to the State This question is an
swered in part by the Comptroer's report
Capt. Davidson says ''to the first of October
one hundred and forty-six cases have been tried
before the Courts and justices of the peace by the
"Police Force, and ten thousand dollars fines
have been IMPOSED.
The Comptrnller's report shows that only 49,,
299 "a of fines by the "Oyster Police Force
ever reached the Treasury of the State What
became of the remainder of $40, 900 fines IN
"PosED2"
If the $40, 900 "ines imposed' had reached the
State Treasury the "Oyster Police Force would
then be indebted to the State $l8, 1876 80 for one
years existence. But when only 3d. 299 "a reach
our Treasury, it is then indebted to the State in
the sum of S24, SS7. 46 for one years support.
Our theory about this "Oyster Navy" is that
if it is of any service TO the Sate-if it prevents
any serious interference with our oyster interest,
it could support itself by the confsoation of the
property of those engaged in the violation of the
oyster laws to the use of the State according to
the penalties fixed in the oyster law.
If the Force fails to do this, it is an expense
without profit. If zone small, slow steamer
fails in the accomplishment of this and brings
the State in debt $24, sS7. 46 nnually, we see
no reason why we should increase this expense
six times by putting steamers enough in the
service Ito cover the field of duty"
Capt. Davidson's report, nevertheless, con-
tains a number of good suggestions, some of
which, if put into operation by appropriate leg
isaton, would protect our oyster interest for the
present and insure an increased revenue from
that source in the future.
The report states that there are 1.-TWO great in
d" terests at war with each other in the oyster
q trade, viz the dredging and the longing
q The first has nearly all the means and is back
q ed by the wealthy packers. 1t has large ves-
sells that can stand weeks of service off shore.
''The latter is represented by many laborers
with small boats that can only take bay in COM
paratively smooth weather
"These dredgers have 500 vessels, with two
h0rroac-like dredges each, when full, weighing
$50 pounds; dragged by vessels of nearly go
tons burhen under full sail, over the beds,
without regard TO the size or condition of the
oyster, they must do great damage to the beds
greater damage-says the the report-than all
other enemies combined. This process destroys
of young oysters whose shells are too
soft 10 admit handling, to every one that is oh
tanned for market
''The process used by the tong-man has no such
effect The tongs touch the beds in a small spot
only, bring up nearly all they touch and are ne
Their so heavy so roughly used as TO crush or
injure either the young or old oysters
This system of dredging must eventually de-
stroy our oyster beds. To prevent this, Capt.
Davidson recommends that the process be pro-
hibited for the space of three years, 1.-THE time
required for the oyster to mature, after giving
one years notice The tong-men ca n supply the
market without any material decrease in the
revenue They had 1907 canoes licensed last
year. Dredging could at the expiration of this
time, be resumed to a limited extent
We fail to see from the report, where the oys-
ter interest receives any material injury, save
from dredging.
lie t US have appropriate Legislation to remedy
this evil
Then let every licensed tong man or dredger
be member of the Oyster Police Force Let
him be furnished with list ofthe licensed boats
and clothed with authority 10 seize every
boat in the business not so licensed Let every
boat thus seized with its fixtures, &c. be confs-
ca ted, and the proceeds of us sale be divided be-
tween the individuals seiziug it, aud the State
Then subject The party thus violating the lazy to
fine and imprisonment, or both Doing this, We
shall have a Police Force. each member OF which
has personal interest in laying hands on every
man violating the law, and every unlicensed
boat. We should then have Force that would