Daily Republican., 1883-11-14
ABOUT OYSTERS.


ABOUT OYSTERS.
MAGNITUDE OF TRE BUol.
rsk - DAMAER OF THE EX.
JUNCTION o. BlvALvES.
70 Gradual diminution 10 the oyster
especially during the past ten
= isa subject that 10 attracting
;derable attention, ~ 1t ID predicted
hose in q position TO be we'll inform.
4 this highly important subject,
npless some stringent legislation Is
ted the whole stock will be ex-
ted within the next thirty years.
nresent the only Increase Is from
natural beds, where the ova and
No cannot be protected. In the deep
n although the increase exceeds
Of any known shell fish. millions
,nuuaily destroyed. The tsinpera-
4 Of the water 10 often too cold for
development Of the young oysters,
even afteS development they are
by enemies and casualties from
'pawn until the shells OF the young
me sufficiently formed and har lep-
afford protection. Planted oys-
are not allowed TO remain undis-
Ied a sufficient length Of time TO
Ne them to breed OF increase. In the
favorable breeding localities, -
piers Sound, the beds grow TO such
tness that the underlying oysters
destroyed by the superincu,nbent
int of the ccumulations. In some
n the beds are two feet and up
Ils in thickness, while only q few
es Of the upper portion are living,
ysters win not survive for any
IN of time when covered with sand /,
or any other matter.
me idea Of the magnitude of the
er business of the Chesapeake Bay
I've obtained from the reports of the
Ter commission, created q few years
by the States Of Virginia and Mary
The bay IL divided into two de-
ln.ents, and each Is governed by
hin regulations. 1t Is estimated
in the Baltimore department,
ch includes less than one half
oyster fisheries, there are twelve
ion of bushels taken ont annually
not less than an equal amount
n from the Virginia department,
ing total Of not less than twenty :
million bushels per year.
10 oyster fleet consists Of one thou
eight hundred vessels Of over fifty
burden, and over three thousand
Ter craft. The official reports show
there are not less than eighteen
sand persons engaged during the
bn in oyster fishing. The imple
b, used in the business are the
ge, the tongs and the fork. The
re is an iron net set In an iron frame
furnished with teeth 80 arranged as
ear the oysters from the beds and
Ter them into the net, AZ 1t ia drawn
the bottom by the vessel to which
attached with long rope. II
hs about one hundred and fifty
lids, and is drawn on board The vessel |
windlass arranged for the purpose.
designed to hold about three bush
lhough it Is rarely Alled with mar.
bic oysters at one haul. Those that
oo'small, or broken, are thrown back
e water, the tongs are composed
wo iron rakes attached to long
en- poles, with an axle set near the
\, nd the fisher stands at the side
e boat and uses this tool with ease,
Iter from two to eight feet deep.
e fork Ia composed of ten or twelve
or prongs, set near each other
liked to q large, stout handle. 1t is
for fishing In shallow water, on
where oysters are entangled In sea
and the fisher generally wades
e water in order to manage 1t
y.
will readily be seen that the dredge
Foys as many or more oysters than
aved The dragging over the beds
ks thousands of oysters, and a plan
bw under consideration to be pre-
I'D to the next General Assembly
aryland to prohibit dredging on
fted sections for o given time.
lessor Brooks, Of Maryland, ex-
~ti the opinion few days since
unless some measures are speedily
Ted to restrict dredging, that it Is
a question of a very few years be-
,hc natural beds Of the Sta o OF
yIand will be wholly exhausted.
Plan that will be presented to the
'tature proposes to conCeed all the
low waters to tongmen, giving them
ta!i'y greater area for operations
they now have, and to redistric'
whole bay, dividing the deep water
ten districts, with intervening dis
s of smaller size, on which there
be ho dredging for an indefinite
the larger districts it IL proposed
l'eruate dredging, to allow time fol
perarion. Captain Waddell, Of the
|er commission, has been in confer
with Professor Brooks, and thinks
him that the strips or districts
Ire dredging is prohibited, will be
flanrrt breeding grounds, which
send spat with the tide to neigh.
ng grounds and recuperate them.
be consumption Of oysters isincreas
ever? year, and until recently the
ly by natural increase was consid-
lncAhaustable, and no aids either
la'lve or otherwise were deemed
'iuI or advisable. But now when
lteVest Of 80 much importance, not
to the States directly interested,
to the whole country, is threatened
eHtiEction, the means for its preser'
On becomes a necessity. BY proper
Iation, and the strict enforcement
be laws, the value Of the oyster beds
be greatly enhanced, and by proper
agement be made to supply the de-
y for many years to come.
huxznrd Pleads Innocence.
;AhlNG, November ia cores
Eleht writing from Ephrata Hills,