Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-05-29
ECoMMUNIcATED.1
Oysters and the Oyster Laws.

Mr.. WELLs-Dear Sir:-Tn the last sew
eral issues of your paper there has been
considerable discussion on the subject of
oysters and the oyster laws of the State,
and in your issue Of the gath ult. there is
well written communication, on the same
subject, that richly deserves notice.
The writer of this communication makes
complaint of the law passed upon the sub
ject, January session, 1872, that it not only
gives away, without consideration, valu-
able right, but reduces the boat license to
so insignificant sum as to make the rev.
enue arising from this source mere baga-
telle
Whether the author of the above COM
munication is, or is not, correct in his con-
clusions and apprehensions of the effect of
the law, I am not prepared to say. But it
is due to the Legislature of the State that
the object and intention of the law should
be considered.
Those persons conversant with the oys-
ter beds of the State, Or who profess to be,
claim that 1hey are great deposits of wealth,
second only, if not equal, to the great coal
fields of the Alleganies. That if these oys.
ter beds are properly worked, it will not
only be no injury to them, but great ben
eft-relieving their over-crowded condi-
ton. Acting upon this idea, the Legisla-
ture of the State has passed laws regulat-
ing the working of these oyster beds, hav-
ing two objects in view-to prevent the
destruction of the oysters by indiscrimi-
nate taking of them, and, at the same time,
to make them contribute to the revenue of
the State, thereby relieving the people, in
part, of the burden of taxation and it is
confidently predicted that in very short
time, when the means for the proper en-
forcement of these laws can be adopted and
adjusted, by the exigencies arising under
them, that the revenue accruing from oys-
ter licenses, together with the tax imposed
upon every ton of coal mined in the State,
will relieve the people entirely of State
taxation. This end, if it can be attained
without too great cost, no one will dispute,
is most desirable. So much for the policy
of the State; and now as to the law passed
in pursuance of that policy.
Your correspondent complains of the re-
peal of those sections of previous laws
which prohibited all persons, except resi-
dents of the county, from catching oysters,
for sale, in the waters of Charles; and it
may be he complains justly. Without
doubt, this change was inaugurated in pur-
suit of the same policy referred to above:
That the oyster beds of the State are almost
exhaustless; the proper working of them
no injury, but benefit, and those engaged
in the business of taking oysters being al
lowed to take them in more counties than
one, and being required to take out license
in every county Were they might choose
to oyster, the revenue of the State would
be greatly increased. Equally, without
doubt, the reduction in the cost of licenses
was adopted because the tax imposed up
on oystermen by previous laws amounted
almost to prohibition, and thereby de-
feated one of the very objects of the law
Those engaged in taking oysters are, gen
orally, men of limited means, and they COM
planned bitterly of the exorbitant cost of
the licenses driving many of them from the
trade. This change being adopted gene
rally over the State, no exception could be
made of the waters Of Charles, and our peo-
pie being less prepared, than their neigh
bors, to avail themselves of the privilege
of taking oysters in the waters Of Somer-
set, or st. Mary's, if they please, Gas they
can do under the law complained off, is
more their misfortune than the fault of the
law.
Your correspondent does not complain
of the enforcement Of the law. If all the
boats engaged in taking oysters in full
view of his premises, and in other waters
Of Charles, are doing so properly licensed,
one object of the law is being rapidly at
tanned, viz: the increase of the revenue of
the State. But, l have no doubt, Mr. Ed
itor, there is serious fault in the enforce
ment of the law. Indeed there must be,
if, as your correspondent alleges, the large
vessels taking oysters, in full view of his
premises, are from Virginia-it being I'M
lawful to issue any license to a non-resi-
dent OF the State. The remedies given for
the enforcement of the law seem to be most
ample, and the penalties for it's violation
are certainly severe.
Any one to whom license to take oys-
ters has been issued is made an officer of
the law, with full power to arrest any VIC
ator of it and take him, for conviction,
O i M or Of no 4
they can even summon posse c0naitGtats to
aid them in making such arrest. Any CT
tizen can give information of any violation
Of the law to a Justice of the Peace, and
require him to issue warrant to the Sher-
If, or Constable, to arrest any violator
Of the law. The Sheriff. or any Constable,
or other officer, can arrest violators of the
law without warrant. And, lastly, it is
made the especial duty of the Oyster Police
Force of the State to see that this law is
enforced.
Enforce the law, as it was intended to
be, and we can easily determine, in short
time, whether the policy adopted by the
State is good and true one or not; this
being determined in the negative, have
no doubt the law would very soon be re-
pealed, ana the policy abandoned.
The State, in extending the privilege of
oystering to all of her citizens, wherever
hey may reside, only requiring them to
AXE out license in each county in which
hey may choose to pursue their business,
IS only charging the liberality manifested
by your correspondent, and owners Of adj
dining lands, to other citizens of the coun-
y, Gegarding the oysters in the waters of
Charles the common property of the coun-
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