Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-08-29

In a week the close season for oysters will be
over in Maryland. The dates within which IL is
lawful 10 catch oysters in the waters of this STATE
with tongs are september l>t to April ID Dre,ig-
ing is not allowed except within the dates of No
vember and April |. Under the act of 1884. a.
construed by the attoI new general. to whom the
question was referred, the licenses are good and
will be made out only for the period within which
IT is lawful TO catch oysters For tongmen the
open or fishing season is ~ months, and for the
dredgers months. Licenses heretofore issued
for a year cancelled, and made of no effect by
the act of 1881 after the close of the last season
and all person desiring TO engage in the business
of taking oysters in our waters must quail Y
themselves by taking out new licenses for tLe
season about to begin. Though some dredgers
We're expected to lapse, under the yearly system
of issuance, into the coming season, the new reg
ulation will work hardship TO comparatively few
of these fishermen, as it was the practice of the
large majority of them to procure authority to
fish at the begin ming of the season, which they
did the last time and may do again now. While
the act of lSSi may be ambiguous and inconsis-
tent in some particulars to such an extent as to
require constituting by the skilled and learned
attorney -general, it is a great improvement on
other acts heretofore devised for the regulation
of the oyster interest. One step in advance which
must be recognized is in providing a directing
head for the force entrusted with the enforce
ment of the law. Another good feature Is the alb
solute rest which oysters have enjoyed during
the breeding period, which is so necessary for
the perpetuation of an important and valuable
article of food. The provision is also calculated
to afford protection, which requires culling on
the beds. so that the small and unmarkeatable
oysters hack tn the waters II
may be conceded that great deal has been done
for the protection of the natural beds belonging
to the State with the view of deriving revenue.
Where more liberal treatment is needed is in the
e lcoul cement of planting interests. The five
re feature is retained in the act of 1891 but the
regulations are so strict that planters may not
take oy sters from their private grounds during
the close season without incuring heavy + email
ties. The policy of the State should be widened
SO as TO encourage planting, from which larger
revenue might be derived by the state than from
| recuI Grated beds in the public domain. 1t will
probably be long while, however, before pri-
vate interests and local privileges can be Undue
ed to yield to the comprehensive treatment such
as the discussion of the oyster question suggest
ed last spring before the meeting of the Legisla-
turc. For the present it is sufficient to under
stand clearly the requirements of existing law
There are other features besides the scope of the
| tongmens and dredgers' licenses. The attorney.
general is understood to have put the construc.
ton on the law that one license only is necessary
to cover dredging, buying or selling, or carrying
on vessels engaged in fishing. though the clause
was susceptible of different construction. Nc
steam vessels are permitted to engage in dredg
ing, and a tax of cents a barrel is imposed upor
steamboats, carrying oysters on regular routes
to be collected under such regulations as the
commander of the State fishery force may estab
lish There is provision for the appointment o
oyster measurers, and the Governor has alread,
designated the measurcrs in Baltimore and a
other places.-Sun.