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

by lar The larger proportion of the oys-
tiers are taken by the drcds ing fleet. There
are six hundred and seventy five vessels
licensed In dredge in Maryland waters,
three bundled and ninety live of which
belong 20 the Eastern Shore. These YES.
sells are usually ScEooncrs; they are all
numhrrcd and registered, aud form a beau.
tiiul feature of bay scenery rs they tack
about under light canvas parSuing their
av"cation. The dredgc is "A stout net work
upon an iron frame attached TO i line
worked by I windlasS; this is heaved over
board As the vessel sails over the oyster
bed, and drawn in 10y means of the line,
the operation being repeated until a cargo
Is secured The scfarng is beneficial 20
the beds unless carried to an exhaustive
extent. These vessels are usually com
mandcd by set Of rough and lawless men,
and well organized water police is neces-
sary for their control. The laws under
which they are licensed are very stringent
for the protection Of the revenue and also
al the interests of the tongmen. Dredg-
ing operations are confined to the open bay
and to the deep water at the mouths of GER
tain rivers within well defined lines, but
the dTcdgers are always transgressing, and
the police sloops are kept busy. \ ua;u-
raj cnmlty exists between the canoemen
aud the dredgers, aud the former are al
ways ON the alert to give information
against their enemies vessel working
al night or in forbidden water is liable to
be captured 10y the State navy. the captain
being heavily fined and often imprisoned
for the offence: aud no term Of an Eastern
Shore court is complete without it's oyster
docket. The captures are not easily made.
the dredging crew often showing fight
aud standing severe punishment before sur
rendering. Every year some lives are lost
~ some serious wounds received in such
actions. on one occasion the plucky pirate
maintaining running fire until his stills
were cut 10 pieces and his pilo;-house de-
mulished by the carronadc of the police
vessel. Indeed, the chase did not strike
untIl ball splintcrcd the compauion-way
within an inch of the captain head Ere
qurntiy, the ,ouEmen take the law into
their OWE hands, and open lire with rifles
and shot guns upon the iutruding vessel
sometimes with fatal results.
These tnngmcn are themselves Of the
t'idHts terr,j'ts o:dcr. but their life is a
hard one. we'll calculated to develop the
:ougher side uf human nature. They upe-
rate IN shallow water, their spccialtios be-
ing pair OF long double Iake>, pivuted
quite low down, aud Il canoe of peculiar
huild and model. famous for sea WORTH.
ness aud speed. They 20 out carly in the
morning, returning at night. and it is
strange to see a large tuwn-likc ST. Mi
Chaeis, for example almost abandoned by
lis male population during the day. The
aisht is apt To be lively, however, aud in
s'"rmy weather there were frequent DIS
tnrbances in such places until the prohibi.
tory liquor laws went into effect some
times these men combine agriculture with
Clustering. their busiest time III the latter
occupation being in the depth of Winter:
but is \ rule they uwu only their t"ngs and
canoes, work at their calling during the
months - winch ha:r an = in them" and
lille through the summer or seek odd
jobs on the vaFinns bay crafts. They are
often It war among themselves. Tie cGsus
btH being their propensity To- po.ciI on the
preserves 81 neighbpring counties rr States.
Livery year there * trouble between the
t"ngm:u Of the Mary land aud Virginia
Eastern shore counties, frequently rIpcn-
M int" actual hnsiillties aud causing seIi-
aus questions al International law be
tween the representatives of the respective
governments.
The canoes used in oysteriug are usually
followed from two and occasionally from
three logs, carrying one aud sometimes
two maSts. rugged with spirit sails, with or
wIthou; iIb. Occasionally. the Larger ones
have additional sails, for these boats carry
heavy spread of canvas and are usually
great sailers. Arrived On his ground the
"yStermau furis up his sail, unshIps his
mast aud gets To work. \ stout board. PRO-
v;ded with side guards, is fixed across the
boat "a hold the oysters; the tongman stands
aud plunges his long rakes To the bottom.
";.euIng and closiue them with a peculiar
motion of the arms until sufficient mum.
Der II oysters has been brought together,
and then raises them hand over hand
and deposits ;he load upon his cross board
Il is fleeing work, and from time to time
lie stops 10 beat hi, body with his arms
aud stamp his feet until the circulation i
restored. When the bay is frozen hard
enough 10 bear i man : weight, the oyster
nIn may hs seen - work, holes being cut
through the ice to admit the ton:s A.
soon as load is secured II Is taken 10 the
nearest puugy with i basket alnft aud the
inoe then returns to lis place. From time
to time the labor is relieved 10y pause for
refreshments OH the half she'll
The oyster is one of the few articles of
diet which never pail on the taste. the
oystermau Swallowing a fat aud Juicy native
with as keen a relish the inland resident
win" never sees one except when visiting
the coast. All over the Eastern Shore
these delicious bivalves may be bought AT
from thirty to sixty cents a hushel, or ready
opened al from sixty cents Ia dollar a
gallon, and yet nobody ever tires Of them
Raw, roasted, scalded, stewed, fried, boiled.
rscalioPcn, IN pu,es, in fritters, in soup,
oysters are found ON every table, sometimes
81 every meal, aud yet no entertainment j.
complete without them. Those taken near
the mouth Of the bay are superior in size
and quality To those caught in fresher and
more tur0id water. but the planted " or
bedsied oysters are the finest Of all. There
seems 10 lbs something favorable to their
growth and quality in the mere removal
from one spot Ia another. aud the owner
Of - farm on the water side has only 10
take up hundred bushels or So and drop
them III suitable part Of the creek,
aud he has an unfaiiing supply. In very
cold weather ten or twelve hushe i at 4
time are caught from the beds and irop.