The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-16

rite edible makes itself felt: aud this must
be regarded as one of the As yet undrvel
oped resources of the country IN aitrac-
tive field is open Ia the entcrprising capl
talist, with no competition and tn" Ger
tainiy of large returns. There would be
no risk of an oyrrstncked market. nor could
any occupation he more agreeable than the
scientific oversight Of 4 well conducted ter
rrpn pond. rerrapin are certainly choice
eating, but | have never yet discovered
their superiority over the black backed
" conters = of the South when the latter
are dressed with the same adIuncts Of wine
and other Scasonings
Both crab aud terrapin present prob
lem of deepest interest TO the->hall 1t be
called p,Hojrnty of Mr.. Bergh. Shall
they ever ENJOY euthanasia? To be plunged
alive into boiling water or laid gently on
bed of spiuttering grease is at present the
quickest known method Of happy despatch.
In the case of the Southern Cooter the old
cook maunmas used to pursue a different
aud as his hold was supposed 10 remain
uurelaxed until thunder should roll, there
was no di fiiculty in drawing out his tcle-
SCOPE neck, TRANSMITTING it with Il two.
pronged fork aud saving oil the head with
a blunt kitchen knife. 1t is doubtful, how
ever. It anything was thus saved in the way
Of suffering, since body aud head possess
the faculty OF living an indefinite time after
the gentle operation.
We have now reached the bottom of the
bay. and have at last discovered the most
valuable aud extensive source of wealth
which the Eastern Shore possesses. The
oyster beds of the Chesapeake are undoubt-
eddy the finest in the world, and the oyster
itself is rs thoroughly and inscparably
mixed with all the interests of the iittoral
population as the sugar III emp Of hot cof-
fee. IL supplies food, in a greater or less
degree, to all classes OF the people; it fur
nishes employment To thousands during
the greater portion of the year; it cnntrI-
huios largely Ia popular education and pub.
lie revenue; it ferliliZcs the land. macada.
mixes the roads, promotes social inter
course, and keeps the lawyers and physi-
clans in practice when other resources fail
The oyster beds extend over every part of
tie bottom of the bay, form bars in the
wider PORTIONS OF all the rivers. and extend
far up into the smaller creeks; and yet
when We consider the numbers which are
annually taken, the inccssant Scrapiug 10y
iongs and dredees, the slow growth Of the
animal and the inuumerabic enemies Of the
unprotected young, It seems wonderful that
the supply has not been long since exhaust
ed. The figures given in this paper have
been compiled from official data, and kindly
furnsed by the Comptroller Of the State.
aud are bclicred To be rs nearly accurate
as possible. The value of this industry
may be estimated from the fact that the
revenue from licenses to dredging vessels
alone was SO. So. - during the last fiscal
year. Besides this, about nine Thousand
dollars per aunum are paid for licenses tn
case going To the school commissioners OF
the several counties.
To study the oyster business thoroughly
one should go To Cr>iieli, 1.-The Venice Of
the Eastern Shore" This little town, which
owes its existence and growth to the oyster
Interests of Maryland, is the southern ter.
minus of the Eastern Shore Railroad, and
is situated on the Little Annamcssex river.
a little estuary making in from Tanglcr
Sound. The town proper is emhcSoncd in
the woods on the main, and presents no
features essentially dffurcn, from other
Eastern Shore villages. BIT long cause
way, over which the railway passes, con.
meets it with the Piueus which has grown
up about the steamboat wharf. The new
town is literally built upon oyster shells.
and here we iiad the large packing houses.
the depot, The two hotels, The principal
stores, the wharves and many private dwell
ings. The hnildiug process is peculiar. \
man purchases a " water lot alongside
the causeway and eIcluses it with plies
He then dumps in oystor shells until he
has enough terra frn,h to support his house.
which hc proceeds to build, filling in his
yard by degrees H. he needs various out
buildings, connecting these by bridges with
the main editice. lfthe emergency is press
Ing, he expedItes matters 10y erecting
house on piles and filling in afterward
The effect of all this is both striking and
unique. You land from the steamer about
day break, aud afteI a breakfast on tough
dried beef a. fried ham you walk ont to
watch the landing of the fish and oysters
upon which you expected to break your
fast, the meal being served invariably about
a half hour before the fishing boats arrive
\ on enter store over gang plank to buy
a cigar. aud thea you lean over the rail OF
the hotel porch as ynu smoke it and watch
the sportive crab and playful minnow be
meath you. Pc! haps you have seen them
before through the seams OF the floor AZ
you took you: matutinal meal. Every
mans back lot is open TO inspection, and
II is amusing to see one feeding his chick
ems on AN island at the foot of his yald.
and another leading his horse from a PENN
suiar stable, and still another stepping from
his kitchen door into the canoe which is
moored beneath. Opposite lies a W ide aud
dreary expanse OF marsh. broken only IN
the far distance by a cloudy mass of tree
tops aud the chimney of an occasion dwell
ing. AT the harbor all is hustle and busI-
ness. The huge oyster packing houses line
the shore for half 4 mile. all built upon
shells; canoes, under sail or oar. are NOV
ing IN every direction, ali intent upon one
Idea-oysters. Slnups, schonners. steam
ers, PUNCHES, harges, cat boats, craft of
every kind, are moving or at anchor, load
ing oysters or discharging shells Here
and there are vessels with Il large basket
run up to the truck, the well known signal
of oysters wanted" which may Toe seen
on every water-coursc which empiies into
the bay, and long canoes. loaded To the
gunwales, are approaching them from every
quarter. The oysters thus hourht are .,lr-