Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-02-10
Importance of Protecting the Oyster In
dustry.


dustry
Mr.. EDIToR:-An organized effort is
being made to throw open the bay to un-
restricted dredging. A greater calamity
than the passage of such law, could not
befall US. as we have no oysters in our
rivers and previous legislatures recog
nizing this fact. wisely set apart certain
bars Ia the bay for the exclusive use of
our citizens who are engaged in catching
oysters with tongs or rakes. and il is to
be hoped that the present. Legislature, in
stead OF allowing unrestricted dredging,
Will make the law even more stringent
than II Is. That the oyster industry is one
OF great magnitude and importance. Civ
ing employment thousands Of workmen
and millions of invested capital, and re-
quires our best care and attention In the
consideration OF it, no enc can gainsay.
That the oyster is fast becoming ex-
tinct in our waters is also fact that can
not be denied. remember when tonger
from the city of Annapolis could go on
any Of our oyster bars and cath from fifty
TO seventy five bushels of good oysters in
one day. Now fifteen to twenty bushels is
considered big days work. If l am
correctly informed, Hollands Island bar,
which was one of our best oyster rocks,
has almost entirely been destroyed by
dredging
AS the best stocked and most produc-
tive beds of Europe were quickly de-
stroyed by unrestricted dredging. so may
the hitherto seemingly exhaustleas beds
of the Chesapeake bay be destroyed if
the present rate Of dredging is continued
An illustration of this may be seen in the
almost total destruction Of the once IA
nous beds OF Tangier and Pocomoke
Sounds. Year after year these beds were
dredged by hundreds of vessels and even
the summer months afforded them but
little rest. The result of this has been
plainly seen during the past few years, in
the great scarcity of oysters in these
sounds. Vessels having found 1t unpro6.
table to dredge in these sounds since the
oysters became so scarce, have turned
their attention to other parts of the bay
and are continually trespassing on our
exempted bars Thirty years ago the de-
struction of these beds seemed almost
impossible and yet, at the present time. it
is an admitted fact, that oysters have de-
creased at least four fifths in Pocomoke
Sound and tive thirds in Tangier.
Owing TO the great extent Of the oyster
beds in the bay and their immense an
nual production, ii may be some years
before there is an oyster famine,
but sooner or later it is coming, unless
the oysters are better protected, and
should free dredging be allowed, the sup
ply would scarcely last season. But few
persons realize the importance Of the oys
ter trade. Many families are dependent
Tor their support upon the income de.
rived from this source Nearly, if not
quite three hundred families in the city
OF Annapolis alone. gain their living by
this means, and God knows, they earn
their bread, literally, by the sweat of their
brews.
From recent investigations by Lieuten-
ant WinslOw of the Navy, which show
great research and study, in his report to
the United States Coast Survey at Wash
ington, by which authority the investiga-
tons and survey were made, the accuracy
of which cannot be doubted nhe states
that unless the oysters in the Chesapeake
bay are better protected, the whole stock
will soon be exhausted Until recently
the supply was considered inexhaustibe
and no additional aid, either legis-
latiEe or otherwise, was deemed advisa
BILE, but now, where an interest of so much
importance is threatened with extinction,
the means Of its preservation becomes
necessity. let In the lace OF THESE la
mentable facts there are those who strong
ly advocate the opening of the entire bay
to the dredgers Not only its preserva.
ton may be accomplished, but its value
greatly enhanced and by proper manage
ment the oyster grounds of the Chesa
peake bay can be made to supply a de
mand equal to that Of our whele country.
England and France consider this such
source of profit and luxury to the people,
that they use the best means to encourage
the propagation of the oyster. All along
the coast of the latter country there are
artificial beds fostered by the government
and the growers and capitalists who have
made it their study. have expended large
amounts of money examining into the
nature of the oyster and every sort of in
geniOus device has been resorted to as
might best promote its growth. What
contrast is here presented, whilst other
countries are fostering the growth by ar
tificial means, we, who have the richest
natural beds in the world are doing our
best to destroy them. GEO. WELLS.
AnnoDolic Fab 10 1899