Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-08-31
o,.tsr.Bed Exhaustion.

With September the oyster season !
!, ',.n again As the industry Is of
WV ,re,t importance to Baldmore, the
w.! 80 Goods Exchange recently sent
~ ~" ,broteh its special committee sever
~ Ln,jred circulars to residents OF the
. q counties Of Maryland and
Vi,,mia. asking replies to questions
MN the view to ascertain whether the
s,or he'd, show increased or decreased
la.ti,cncss. the causes Of exhaustion
aJ,I,e remedy for tie evil. Several
'.,alred replies were received convey
~, mnrb information in regard to the
.,njjtion of the oyster supply and the
mes If It's great diminuton. \ re-
,n,s IF the information received is as
follows:
The opiniou is unanimous that the
.,.,cr supply is largely Diminishing
Il roneLout the whole area Of the Chcsa-
a.,tq bay and it, tributaries, and the
Fs.r..sjon is often used that it some
,bino i not done without delay to stop
,be evil the ruin will be permanently
S.yond repair The causes of exhaus-
ann If the beds assigned are mainly:
m. destruction Of the spawn by those
abo operate uu cr the provisions Of the
l.u which allows five bushels per day to
be taken for planting purposes, it being
;oJi.putabc that millions Of oysters can
r.. i ,iroyed in an hour during the
.nawne season by single boat. The
d.urbance Of the oysters during the
SIMMER (Which is the growing season, }
ooler the same law, Is also a great evil.
The spawning season begius about the
at week in April-May bsing the
principal time and dredging, longing
q, s.raping works humiliation. Instances
are cited Of where new logs being towed
op the rivers during May become COW
cred with the oyster spawn. This oc-
ears in no other month, and will not
l,ppcn to old logs, as they are too Shiny
10 hold the spawn Where the natural
rocks and bars have disappeared reefs
Dr. Winrews of shells should be thrown
,cross the bottom Of the streams at right
ngIes to the current, and the spawn or
,lt will attach to them, aud here they
.quire undisturbcd time to grow
Another great evil, the taxing of
ed oysters out of the bay to Northern
-ounds, is furnishing ammunition to
rivals for our own destruc-
,u as it robs our natural magazines
r the benefit of their artificial ones
ne great size Of many of the dredging
ats, and the immense weight of the
ger drcdgcrs, are also said to be causes
much evil, as more oysters are crush
or buried and slnothercd in the mud |
IN are taken, and the grounds and /
RS are utterly ruined.
Opinions regarding the sufliciency of
, existing laws differ considerably, |
ng saying they are not what are re-
ired; others that they are sufficient il
'or5ed, and many that the police boats
not numerous enough, whilst some
ert that the oyster navy is mere po-
cal machine. Its said by all that in
: way the present law causes great
'chief, as vessels steal load from
hidden grounds at night and then, to
id detection, sail out into free water
Gull, thus sacrificing all the seed,
III will perish in the mud, whereas,
culled on the rock where taken the
ply would continue.
Protection of any kind is regarded as
y if seed and small oysters are allow
to be taken at any time for CONNER
purposes.
The remedy for the evil must be sim
general, and adopted both by Mary
and Virginia. A close season.
Ter boats, lighter dredgers, retren
of the spat or seed in the STATE,
Fe police boats and responsibility for
Igal taking to be more direct and gen
ii are some of the suggestions made
lie committee are earnestly studying
3 situation, and it is probable that in a
' weeks they may be able to offer some
bstitute for the present laws that will
ct all requirements and save this
Eat specially of our State and city from
ruin that is impending baltimore
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