Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-06-19
The oyster Interest.

Ahc oyster interest.
The packers Of Baltimore know that
,he oyster supply is greatly diminished.
THIS condition will result in the decline
Of the packing trade Ia Maryland unless
tie supply Of oysters be increased? The
demahl is grosiug largst every year.
and the only way tc meet the present
trouble is through the artlfrial cultiya-
ton Of oysters. The Statement that the
natural rocks or beds can furnish oysters
enough for The rapidly increasing mem
bers Of consumers, ATE made by. people
who arc strangely ignorant, or who
know the facts, and have some motive
for wishing to conceal them.
After careful reflection, the Canned
Goods Exchange Of Baltimore has deter.
mined to pronounce publicly in favor Of
the passage Of general oyster planting
law at the next session of the Legislature.
Mr. Is. Howard Haman. Of Cans aud
Ilaman, the Counsel Of the Exchange,
has been instructed o prepare a law;
when it is completed, its contents will
be published in the press Of The city and
State This will be done before the
Legislature convenes, 50 that ample time
and opportunity will be afforded for crit
itism Of the proposed act.
The Canned Goods Exchange is op-
posed to the passage Of dny law granting
large and exclusive rights or privileges
to any corporation. The Baltimore
packers are content With their business
of buying, packing and selling oysters
They desire only that the supply shall be
increased and will present to the citizens
Of Maryland a plan through which any
ono. wh ether rich or poor, who desires
to plant oysters, may do so. If however
the people Of the State, through their
representatives 10 the Legislature, re-
fuses to take any interest in this matter,
and fail to pass a fair general oyster
planting law, in that event the packers
will ask that the Legislature give them
the privilege of taking a portion of the
bay aud planting and culhyating oysters
therein. in order that by such an object
lesson, the people Of the whole State
may understand the benefits that will ac-
crue to them, through the introduc ion
of this industry: If the supply is not
in some way increased, the oyster pack
ing industry, and after that, the general
packing industry of Maryland, viii be
obliged to leave this State
A good deal of opposition is now be-
ing made to oyster planting. Some Of
the objections are fair, and the Canned
Goods Exchange desires to meet all OBJ
icctions Of this kind. The boatmen OBJ
Jet to the leasing of the natural rocks;
the p1ckers agree to this opposition. -
They Go not wish to include the natural
rocks or bars in their planting law. A
good deal Of alarm has been caused
amongst the boatmeh by the suggestion
that the rocks or bars where oysters
grow naturally should be leased. Adj
gvocates of leasing the rocks have said in
correctly that the natural rocks in other
States have been leosed. No State which
hos passed an o--tssls J - sss al
lowed leasing Of natural ,cks, with the
kexceptiyn Of the State sf Texas. and this
portion Of their law, it is understood,
will probably be repealed
Uni, ctions are vigorously made to the
letting Of large tracts to corporations, it
will be seen that the packers are also
opposed % this. Amongst the uureason-
lble objections to the law are those which
viii probably be l,nde and are now be-
ing made by attorneys and others who
iclaim to represent the tongers. In GER
tain couB'les Of The State, 1t is to the APP
kpareut interest Cf the catcher to keep
.oysters scarce ard high, in this manner
sshis business thriyes, and so long rs he
can get hish psices for oysters to day, he
[ does not think Of tomorrow, when there
will be no oysters {, sell Against this
comparatively small interest may be OPP
posed the interests Of all people who eat
oysters This food was formerly eaten
by the poor az well as by the reLi it IS
now however rapidly becoming luz ury.
Which nIY few can afford. Oysters that
were formerly sold at FROM S5 TO 80 cts
I a bushel now sell at from - cents to 81
bushel, and prices are on the rise.
The earned Goods Exch2aSe has
also decided to establish special bureau
! This bureau is for the purpose Of gath
eriag aud importing information in re-
gard 20 the oyster question and for he
purpose e eatepding the cause of oyster
farming IN Maryland The office at
which the bureau will be established
| viii be equipped With a stenograPher
and al persons desiring Information re-
! garding this question. OF who have in
formation 90 impart or suggestions to
make, regarding the provisions of just
oyster law, will be conferrreg favor
upon she Canned Goods Exchange, and
will be doing their duty as citizens by
communicating freely and at all times
with tho above mentioned bureau.
Better YinAes For Farmers.