Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-09-16

cAssapsaks Bay cysssF Interests.
The special report Of Mr.. Richard H.
Edmonds on the oyster interests of The
Chesapeake. Bay. made BY request of
The census department. contains some
very interesting facts IA reference to
dredging.
The report says that while dredging
properly conducted would no doubt be
beneficial TO the State, IL j. being car.
ried too tar, and the ultimate effect will
be the same as in every European
country where il has been unrestricted
by proper laws. The once famous beds
of Tangier and Pocomoke sounds are
examples, being almost exhausted. The
report further says : Dredging in Ma
ryland IS simply general scramble car
RED on in 100 boats, manned by $500
daring and unscrupuIous men. The
tenure by which the captains hold their
positions is such that they are almost
forced to disregard the law. An hon
est captain who complies with the law
by not working on Sunday, at night, or
on forbidden ground, will take at least
a week longer to catch load of oysters
than one who, disregarding the law,
gets his oysters whenever or wherever
he can. 1t has been impossible for the
oyster police since IFS first organization
to enforce the laws. Seven hundred
well manned, fast-saiing boats scatter
ed over such large space as the Ches-
apeake bay are rather difficult 10 watch,
and especially at night. All blame for
violating laws does not, however, at
tach 10 the boat-owners, as some of
them are prominent gentlemen of the
most upright character. The unscru-
pulousness of the captain is well assls-
ted by the character of his men. They
are gathered from jails, Penitentiaries,
work k-houses and the lowest and vilest
dens OF the city. They are principally
whites, many of whom are foreigners.
As may be supposed, the life led by
these men on board Of the vessels is OF
the toughest kind. II is a gratifying
fact, though, that there are some few
who ale respectable and honorable men.
This is more especially the Cas-. on the
boats owned in the lower counties oi
/ MARYLAND. The@efew are either paid
certain amount per month or allowed
a share IN the profits. A far average
made by each man would be S11 .
month, making SIT for a season of sew
en- months. On this average, during
an oyster season, the 4 800 dredgers
receive about $377, 800, and the 100
captains, whose wages will average $50
a month, about s245, ,000-making to-
tai of S622, 300. Board costs the ves-
sells about 81 so a month for each man;
equal 10 S420 a season for each boat,
or 1894 900 fer the entire feet. This
added TO S622, 800 gives atotal ofS916,-
900 paid to the dredgers of Maryland
during every oyster season. All boats
are required TO pay the comptroller a
yearly license of So for each registered
ton. In 1878 there were licenses Is
sued TO 691 boats, since when there has
been steady decrease in the number
Of licensed dredgers, though no de-
crease in the number ei boats actually
engaged, showing many work without
license. For 1880 season there
were only 327 licenses issued. The
| 700 boats actually engaged, with ap-
proxImaled tonnage offs, 366, should
pay the State $49.099 for license, in
stead of $3.50 so, the amount collec-
ted. Dredging boats vary IN size from
5 10 70 tons, and in value from $500 to
S., 900, some owned in the lower part
Of the State being valued at $4,000.
The 700 boats at an average oi 81 ,5O0
each would be worth 81 ,050,0O0. The
apparatus is valued at so 900 more,
making 81, 12O, 900 capital invested in
the dredging boats. The amount ex-
pended for repairing these boats annu-
ally is about Sl05,0O0. As the besi
stocked and most productive beds o.
Europe were quickly destroyed by un'
restricted dredging, so may the hhher-
10 seemingly exhaustless beds Of the
Chesapeake bay be depleted IL the pre-
sent rate OF dredging is continued. j.
it were possible to restrict dredging sc
as TO give every bed an occasional yeaI
of rest the result would prove the wis
dom Of such a course. Owing to The
great extent of the oyster-beds in the
bay and their immense annual pFOdUc
ton 1t may be some years before there
is an oyster famine, but sooner or late
it is coming unless there Is rsdica
change in some of the present phases
Of the business"