Evening journal., 1891-02-10
DELAWARES OYSTER BEDS
A BILL FOR THEIR PRESERVATION
AND PROTECTION.

hfAAt1A AfEANAAAtA ~ AbH ANNH A1 An
prove the Methods Of Collecting Taxes.
StaH orrespondence EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Feb 9-.The bin for the pre-
servation Of the Delaware oyster beds IS
now drawn and notice Of It viii be given
in the House this week.
The bill cites the fact that the oyster
beds have been the source Of considerable
revenue daring the past twenty years Ii
provides that the state shall make an
appropriation tSJ, 600 to $40. 000l to re-
ple1ish the natural beds with shells to
catch the spawn The natural bed is
known as the The Ridge II is one
and one-half miles square, aud short
distance below Bombay Hook, of gellev's
Island. The idea is "a replenish it with
shells TO catch the spawn, or with seed
oysters, and then shut IL off from the
dredgers for q period Of four years. The
Legislatnrece can fix the amount OF license
20 be paid,
Government Statistics
Tn speaking Of the oyster interest the
following extract Is taken from the re /
port of the United States Commission Of /
Fish and Fisheries published ia 1887:
The oyster beds OF Delaware In 1880. /
produced 800, 600 bushels Of native |
oysters valued at $6S7, 725 There were
also planted in the waters Of this state |
$50 600 bushels Of oysters from Chesa-
peake bay and elsewhere to be left |
bedded here until suitable for market
In addition there we're 1874 500 bushels |
of oysters received from other states and |
F=skad In the cannery at Seaford Little |
Creek Landing is the headquarters for
the native oyster business. The southern /
Aa5a1
eral places along the shore, |
but chiefly opposite the villages
Of Little Greek Landing and Mahon's
Ditch. and are raised mostly for the
Philadelphia trade, the beds and planting
being largely controlled by the dealers Of
that city. The capital invested in the
industry in Delaware is given at$i45, 800,
which inclndes sixty FIVE vessels at
$50 600; 800 boats, $4,000: gear and
outfit, $4,000; shore property, $79, 500.
The number of oyster fishermen is $50
and Of shoremen 245"
AEainst.ForeIgn Control.
This extract sets forth feature that the !
Delaware people object to- That is that
PHILADELPHIA dredgers and dealers control {
the industry to a large extent The l
Delaware oystermen say that they should !
have a better show, and that foreign '
oystermen should not be allowed to | !
sweep into Delaware waters and deplete
The beds to the detriment of the home
fisherman.
What Joshua MeGonigaI Says.
Ex-Collector Of Oyster Reveue Joshua d
McGonigal granted me an interview to- Y
day he said n
"A map Of Delaware was made IN 1865 {
at Little Greek Landing there we're then l
swenty-three dwellings, two stores. one J
school house and seventy five inhahi =
.ants all told 2
Ia 1891 there were eighty three ;
dwellings,, four stores, two schools. one
'hurch and wheelwrlght and black =
'mith shop The population Is 277 and 4
ne idle houses only number eleven. This
s 2 result of the oyster industry"
1aasedf' a
Tho first oyster law was passed IA a
January, 1871. The guard boat was o
ought in 1873 by me paid S3. 800 for 4
The boat was then tw years old. q
aid oil the grounds and fifteen acres were y
llotted TO each boat For this the owner ~
2 owners Of each boat paid $25 ground 3
ent and 81 per ton, custom house Y
aeasurement, for the boat d
an act was passed four years after te
wards allowing each boat twenty fye
eres on the same terms. There was
urther act passed in 1886. allowing Il
hem fifty acres on the same terms K
DO the oystermen stake of more than n,
he law allows themg' :,
Yes. ali the larger boats have from Il
90 10 200 acres staked up as planting N
rounds for the small sum Of $25." Il
What has been the general condition / q,
4 the natural oyster bedey' Il
From 1871 to 1891, the natural oyster 81
beds were full Of oysters and were 4 Of
mall gold mine to the state Delaware b,
ould have made great deal OF money Of
rom these beds II they had been properly di
managed. For twenty years there have OF
been from forty to sixty boats dredging Al
u our national rocks, taking oysters and iii
hells every year and putting them on b,
heir plantations. The beds are natural ca
ocks They have become destitute Of II
ysters ano there are no oysters left 10 fl
pawn. II there are no oysters left N M
pawn there is no chance for growth Of VI
loung oysters AZ
What has the state received from al
y ster revenuef' pt
From $40 600 to $50, 600, clear Of ali &C
expenses. This, l think. Is showing 10
sufficient 70 Justify those who are inter- C
'sted IN the oyster Industry to ask FOR N
tate aid, We want the beds replenished In
With seed oysters or shells to catch the "a
pawn. The shells are preferred. That el
'art Of the bed so seeded should no. be CT
worked upon for four years at least d,
What do you think OF repeating the b,
sw as u now effects the creeksYT
The law as 1t now stands as regards A
lhe creeks is good one, and should not p'
be altered. That part relating "a the Il
PORTION of The bay that is laia of AZ fe
iongers ground Is good and ought MOI.
lnder any consideration, to be repealed II
say this for several reasons. II tba
'reekg sre opened our dredgers win soon
iave all the oysters taken off with shells Il
{ Is the only part of the bay to which y
We can look for seed or spawn to supplv i
'ur beds, now destitute Of seed. is
II would recommend that the small ~
boats In this state, from ave to ten tons !,
custom house measurement. should hava u
me right to use their small hand dredres
when It is too rough to tong. Sometimes
Lhe weather is so bad that they are kent
from work At week at a time. Then in
again, these small boats are manned bv n,
men who are natives Of Delaware ana
tney have large families to support r
Would this dredging be disaSvan4- | o,
age to the oyster bedsgf r
ID my Judgments it would not he a T
disadvantage to the beds Their dredvas II
are small and they can catch but smsll
af a time usvl,r,. .,