The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-12
The Maryland oyster Trade.

A meeting Of oyster packers and vessel
owners was called at Carroll Hall, Baltimore,
Wednesday night preliminary to the establish
ment of an Oystermen's Association. The as
ISOLATION is to have for its object the general
protection and preservation of the oyster
business. About forty packers and nearly
two hundred owners, commission merchants
and vessel masters signed the call.
The association was organized, the officers
appointed, and resolutions adopted expressive
of the sense and objects of the meeting.
Chairman Aughinbaugh said: THE oyster indus
try is the largest interest but one in the state OF
Maryland, and SO much danger threatens It al TINS
time that we must look the problem fairly in the face
This meeting is called TO voice the sentiments OF
people who interested in the oyster business IN
which from $1,000 to rs 900 people are engaged We
are here TO devise ways to foster the industry, 10
prevent its destruction and not to tear 1t down
Gen. Bradley T. johnson was one of the
speakers. Among other things he said;
After the fight in the Choptank every man engaged
in IL have been arrested and prosecuted and
tba N tbsra ,Sonld have been no fght i'm Chester
river. Marshal Frey is arresting them all now. HE
is not shooting people not DESTROYING tne,r poats
must be enforced be they fair unfair wise or I'M
wise, You captains must not take illegal arms on
a
no remedy to the evil Il will deprive the people OF
all the State of the enjoyment of common property
Il will drive out Of employment l9oo vessels a az
dustry and it viii not in the least tend to protect the
oyster beds. The true remedy seems to be as FOL
lows: Prohibit dredging under county licenses
Appropriate shallow water where tongs can be used
70 the fongers Of the counties where they live ana
protect them Appropriate al the deer WAFER wa ,i
State. Reorganize the State fishery force on the
/ principle that the Baltimore police force was reor
ganized in 1850 50 that il VIII be mai police ana
not hospital for needy politicians, and last, and
than ALL let the whole people interested IN ms
preservation and protection Of the oyster interes
send proper and Intelligent representatives to the
I next General Assembly
Capt. Thompson also addressed the meeting
! We don't see that Gen. Johnson has pro
posed anything new. His recommendations
are about such as are covered by the present
/ law. if properly enforced. 1t is not new
/ discovery that the oyster interests of thu:
State are important in their character. They
have employed some of the best legal talent.
For years the Legislature has had the protec.
ton of the oyster beds of the Chesapeake and
its tributaries under careful consideration.
Scarcely session passes that the law is not
altered or amended for the purpose of making
it more efficient. But recent occurrences
would indicate that the State is further from
its object than ever. The cause of this Is
probably not so much in the law itself as in
the manner Of its execution, and in that law
less spirit that pervades both tongmen and
dredgers, and which Capt. Thompson, Gen.
Bradley T. johnson, nor anyone else can
truthfully deny We have had years Of expe-
rience upon this subject, and we know where
of we speak. There will have TO be more
stringent legislation and more rigid enforce
ment of the law, if the Maryland oyster trade
is not destroyed.