Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-06-05
The Oyster Question.

Now that the list OF June has passed,
the time limited by law as well as closed
by the ensuing hot weather, which usually
sets in about that time, for taking oysters
has expired, comparative quiet prevails on
the Wicomico river, and the people in that
section experience great relief at the ces
sation of the oystering enterprises. We
are told, however, that the oystermen left
with the avowed purpose of resuming their
operations again next Spring, or as soon
as they may with profit resume their work
of depicting the oyster beds. Our citizens
are, consequently, much alarmed and view
with much anxiety the prospect in store
for them. It is fortunate, perhaps, that
before another season shall come our Leg
islature will. have met, and, we have no
doubt, adopted protective means. Itseems
to us that the views of our people in the
premises are but reasonable and right, and
should receive the favorable consideration
the Importance of the subject authorizes.
We agree that it would be not only mat
ter of economy, in relation to State reve-
nue., but also an act of unquestionablej JUS
tice to the citizen, if the incoming Legis-
lature would, in stringent terms, provide
and regulate the taking of oysters by linn
iting the authority to do so to the bona
tide citizens of the counties in which the
licenses are to be granted, and in which
the oyster beds are located. The oyster
men of one county, for instance, should
not be allowed, under any pretext what
ever, to ply their business within the iu-
risdiction of another. Some such measure
as that would be respective of the rights
of all, without giving superior advantage
to any. Somerset county is protected by
some such law with signal benefit to her
interests, but while the law applicable
there excludes the citizens of other coun-
ties from oystering within the confines of
Somerset, it is accompanied with mani
fest injustice in this, that the oystermen of
Somerset, availing themselves Of the gene
raj law, are allowed to oyster in any of the
waters of the State on an equal footing
with citizens of those counties who are
not likewise guaranteed their local rights.
Weclose the subject, for the present, with
the following extract, taken from the Eas-
ton Star. The views of the Star, of which
the following is a mere excerpt, are set
forth with great vigor and clearness, and
are as strongly applicable to the counties
on this side of the bay as to those of the
Eastern Shore. The Star says:
"Further reflection on the subject has
satisfied us that we have right, and our
oystermen ought to demand, not only these,
but additionly measures for their protec-
ton, by the enactment of local law for
Talbot, Queen Anne's and Dorchester
counties, similar to the local law for Som
erset county. All dredgers are excluded
from the waters of Somerset county and
they are prevented from violating the law
by the Scoopers, which constitute an effec-
tive police in the waters Of that county
There the Scoopers may not scoop or drag
within two hundred yards of the shore !;
but beyond two hundred yards, they may
scoop or drag by paying $15 for county
license, the money to go to the county
school fund. When the wind is high, and
oystermen cannot catch oysters with rakes,
they scoop in deep water, and thus lose no
time. Being interested in the beds pro-
tected from dredgers, they are on the spot
throughout the season to inform OF and
arrest all who violate the law. This is
good law for Somerset, and it would be
equally good for Talbot, and there is no
good reason why we should not have it
here, and in Queen Anne's and Dorches-
ter. It would protect our waters from il
legal dredging, give our oystermen con-