Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-02
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OPPOSED.
Preservation of Oyster Beds Discussed by
Mass Meeting IN Baltimore.

Preservation of Oyster Beds Discussed by .
Mass Meeting In Baltimore.
mass meeting was held in Baltimore Thurs
day night under the auspices of the Canton oyster
exchange to discuss the temporary scarcity of
oysters in Chesapeake bay and the Potomac
river and to take measures for recuperating the
beds Delegates were present from Somerset,
wicomico. Dorchester. Talbot, Queen Anne's,
Kent, St. Mary's, Anne Arundel and Calvert
counties and Baltimore city was well repre-
sented- ]. Frank Tyler, president Of the Can
ton oyster exchange, called the meeting to Or
der and Mayor Davidson presided There was
q list Of i've hundred vice presidents, including
the names of Gov. Jackson. Senator German,
Congressman Barnes Compton, ex-Congress-
man Charles H. Gibson, Congressman William
McKaig, ex-Postmaster Frank Brown. ex-Mayor
Hodges, Congressman Rusk, Rev. Royal H.
Pullman, ex-Gov. Henry Lloyd, Postmaster W.
". johnson and ex-Mayor Latrobe.
Mayor Davidson, in the opening address of
the meeting. said that heretofore the public
had stood aloef from the discussion as to pre-
serving the oyster beds, but he said. at last it
has awakened to the consciousness that the
oyster industry iS one which concerns the peo-
pie of the whole state, and that there is no
representative of the people from any portion
Of il, how remote soever from salt water, who
can afford TO remain in ignorance Of it,
Representative Henry Page OF the first con-
gressional district spoke emphatically against
selling or leasing the oyster beds he thought
that the decrease In the oyster supply was more
fictitious than real and resulted from an in
creased demand which could not be satisfied as
easily as formerly. He opposed any step that
would throw the oyster men out of work He
said: 10 reduce these oyster people to penury,
to disregard the fair claims of this deserving,
Woodworking, god-fearing people for any pur-
pose would be outrage which we conf
dent the good people Of the state will never
countenance."
States Attorney Monroe Of Anne Arundel
county followed in the same strain, making a
strong plea for the oystermen- He believed in
enforcing existing laws-the culling law for
one-and thought that if that were done the
beds would be inexhaustible.
Thomas c. Weeks of Baltimore took issue
with those who thought the oyster beds were
going 10 dry up and gave figures to sustain his
position Among other things he said: The
falling of Of the catch this season is due also to
the operation Of the Gull law of 1890. The
boats have come up laden with oysters which
have brought good prices, and the small
growth left on the grounds. as the result of
this wise and proper legislation, promises, with
still more stringent enforcement Of the law,
an abundant supply for future seasons"
Col VIM H. Legg said that there was law
enough to protect the oyster If IL were only
enforced.
Mr.. A s. J. Owens opposed all laws confer
ring on individuals exclusive rights in the
oyster lands He favored planting the barren
oyster lands by the state. the money to be
raised by an annual tax, and charging so much
. bushel for oysters afterward taken from these
% planted places.
The resolutions that were then adopted BY
the meeting controvert the derogstory state
nents made by the Concert Hall meeting last
March. and ascribe the present temporary
scarcity Of oysters to the effects Of the grea,
freshets and foods Of the spring Of 1889, and de-
clare that the devastated beds are recuperatin2
BY the same hand that depleted them. The
resolutions oppose selling, leasing or giving
away any Of the subj marine grounds of the state
either In whole or in part and declare in favor
OF strict adherence to the culling law and the
extension Of its provisions by the concurrence
OF Virginia to oysters caught in the Potomac
river.