The daily gazette., 1883-04-02
fEp FROM SATURDAY
nLr.sAL pREpaERs.
,Apture OF Oyster Thieves In the Great
a.a.....A....a-

yApture Of Oyster Thieves Ia the Great
Choptank.
Especial Baltimore sun.l
OXFORD, MD., March 30.-The most ex-
citing episode which has occurred in long
. hlle happened In the Great Choptank river
on Wednesday, sSth inst. A feet Of five
large oyster vessels was surprised while
dredging illegally in the river between
Crooks and Todd's Points, ON forbidden
ground, and after an exciting chase were all
captured by the police sloop Eliza Hayward
Captain Edward Harrison, and the police
steamer Leila, Captain Mitchell, of the
Maryland oyster navy.
The police boats with the captured vessels
reached Oxford at o'clock Wednesday
evening. A hearing was granted two hours
afterwards on board the steamer Leila. JUS
fice Benjamin r. Wamsley heard the cases,
the trial lasting six hours. The captains of
Ihe dredgers were fined $50 each and costs.
Captain Lewis A. Fluhart, of the pungy
Mary v. Duncan, was also fined 500 and
costs for dredging without q license. Ap-
peals were taken in every case.
The police sloop Eliza Hayward entered
the Great Choptank river at IL o'clock
Wednesday morning and came suddenly
upon the dredgers, who were taken by sur
prise. They were all at work in the Great
Choptank, between Crooks and Todd's
time was Lost in hauling In the
dredges which were out, and the
oystermen started full sail for the
Chesapeake bay, four miles distant
When the oystermen had made about
half the distance to the bay a steamer
rounded Sharpe's Island from the Chesa-
peake side and entered the Choptank
directly ahead of the fleeing dredgers.
This was an unlocked for and very embar-
RAISING event. The foremost of the oyster
vessels gave a signal, and a cry Of alarm
went down the line. The steamer was the
Leila, which arrived just in the nick OF
time" TO head off the dredgers and prevent
their escape into the bay. The oystermen
performed pretty feet maneuvre, and went
about with dispatch. As fast as they could
crowd sail they scampered up the Great
Choptank, followed by the police sloop and
the steamer.
The pungy Isaac N. Smith put into Broad
creek. The others of the dredging feet en-
tered Harris's creek. Captain Mitchell,
who is the commander of the State fishery
force of Maryland, held a hasty consulta-
tion with Captain Harrison of the police
sloop. 1t was decided to send the Eliza
Hayward after the pungy in Broad creek,
and the steamer followed the four dredgers,
which had made for shallow water In Harris's
creek. This disposition of forces resulted
speedily in the capture of the whole batch
During the chase several shots were fired
from the steamer without effect Two o.
those pursued by Captain Mitchell ran
aground in the creek. The Leila also ran
aground, but got off without much delay
The advent was entirely accidental, but il
proved an unlucky event for the oystermen
who otherwise had fair chance and a good
wind to make their escape. The captured
au1a r.tl lr.r cd
dredgers."
Several of them had as many as 2,00C
bushels OF oysters on board. They wer,
understood TO be dredging for the Baltimore
market The reason for the capture is be
cause 1t is unlawful for vessels If more thar
ten tons measurement to scrape or dredg,
for oysters in the Choptank.