Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-10-01
subject, . and st. Mary's oystermen

1assanS HOklcC W tuts l8ct AOF IL
the necessity for our
sending 70 Annapolis Democraticl
10 influence the
Democratic Delegates from the
inland counties to vote against any
proposition to lease the grounds.
Is it not natural to suppose that
Democrats will have more influence
with Democrats than Republicans
would have? We think 20 and we
believe that the FISHERMAN who
votes the Democratic ticket this
fall casts his ballot where it will do
him the most good.
Is it q fact that our oyster sup
ply is diminishing? We believe
the reverse to be true. There is an
unusual abundance of small oysters
on the bars and q rigid enforce
ment of the 'cull law will permit
them to develop. Oysters, like
land crops, are affected by the sea-
sons, and, the environments being
the same, they will grow just as fat
and increase just as rapidly for the
public as they would if owned by
AaeRascdiAnsv Gsrlka. Tiftre Il no nc
appreciable diminution Of the num-
Der Of oysters and that if they were
allowed to remain undisturbed until
October more gallons could be
shucked from the catch of 189O-91
than have been for years past.
These are the observations of prac.
teal men, not the dreams of thee.
rists, and to our minds, one fact il
Of infinitely greater value than q
thousand theories.
We feel deeply on this subject,
and our opposition to leasing the
oyster grounds is not a thing Of
yesterday. Long years ago, the
writer's father-now dead and gone
to his rest-was an officer in the
great mass meeting of st. Mary's
people which 80 forcibly protested
against corporation obtaining pos.
session of our oyster bars. We in.
herited a prejudice against the
movement and since we have been
able to think we have strengthened
in the opinion that corporate con-
troll of the right Of fishery is an
evil to be dreaded. To-day, on the
shores of our creeks and rivers may
be found hundreds of comfortable
and happy, though humble, homes
whose inmates are clothed and fed
through the oyster industry. The
proposition to lease the oyster beds
Of their business and Danish them
from the homes they have earned.
They are not skilled artisans who
would be in demand anywhere.
What alternative would be left
them? The lands are pre-occupied.
Can they cultivate the earth for
themselves? No; for it is the pro-
perty of others Can they gather
the fruits which the hand of God
ripens on the path of man? No ;
for like the soil, the fruits are pri-
vate property. Can they draw
water from a spring inclosed in a
field? No; for the proprietor of
the field by virtue of his right to
the field, is proprietor of the foun-
tain. Can they, dying of hunger
and thirst, stretch out their hands
for the charity of their fellow-crea-
lures? No; for there are laws
against begging. Can they, ex-
hausted by fatigue and without a
refuge, lie down to sleep upon the
highways? No; for there are laws
against vagabondagep What then,
would be left to them? To give up
their independence and in their
own land become serfs to corporate
wealth. In the waters which sur
round our county Providence has
placed a bountiful food supply and
untold wealth, where he who will
may 60 and find reward for his
labor. II IS ours. We are no new
corners. We are defendants of the
men who won this land. Our
fathers bought it of its first owners
the 1ndians-and held their title to
it against British bayonets. They
left us as a precious heritage the
waters free to all and shall we
submit to seeing corporations stake
them ont and set Pinkerton thugs to
shoot us down if we dare go upon
our own.
This is no fancy picture. Pin