Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-04-16
THE OYSTER QUESTION.

N(ucstdUu 10 SuCJNSs " N'0~S'' Il
MANY Of t.,2Sssiern Shore Counties
have air, Mass Meetings and
resulted against ia proposition to
lease the oyster beds and bars. On
Friday, Of last week. there was a
largely attended meeting at sOlOmon's
Island, Calvert county. and a protest
against the move was there numerous.
ly signed. The Kent County oyster
men are aroused and are TO meet
next Thursday evening and be adj
dressed by Col. William Fl. Legg,
Hon. Harrison W. Vickers. and if bis
engagements will permit, By Hon.
James A. Pearce.
st. Mary's Oystermen are to meet
at Hollywood, April 23rd instant.
What is our county's interest in this
NATTER From the county Clerk we
learn that, for the past season. he
issued 757 licences to tongers. Every
one of these licences represents at
least five persons-no poor man ever
has a smaller family than that-and
il is safe to say that in round numbers
300 st. MsrY's people are depen-
dent upon oystsring for their liveli.
hood. This is a low estimate and
does not include scrspers and dredg.
els. The condition which confronts
these good people is a proposition to
lease their oystering grounds to cor
porations or syndicates. II such q
scheme succeed, one.fourth of our
people will be deprived Of their
means Of subsistence and thoir outfits
of boats &c, be rendered practically
useless. To the theorists in Baltimore
and the inland portions Of our State
this is small matter but to the oyster.
men and the people of the tidewster
counties, it is a very large affair.
On our fret page we republish
Governor Jacks1n's views on the
subject and We invite perusal Of
them. Something should be done to
replenisb the oyster beds. For our
own part we subscribe to the belief
that the people Of the oystering coun.
ties are competent to formulate a
plan to produce the effect desired and
we think that in their meetings they
should discuss this phase Of the ques'
ton as well as protest against leasing
the grounds. And, when they have
arrived at the conclusion let them
see to it that such representatives are
Tue Douy before Which the matter il
to be adjudicated-as will know their
views and dare maintain them.
While on this subject we wish tc
suggest one point which we think
calls for legislation. It is what is q
natural bed or barr" In the absence
OF a statutory definition it seems tc
us that our Courts have been, in years
past just guessing-one Judge think.
ing one way and one another. There
should be some planting grounds and
before man plants them he should
have some way Of knowing a clear
title. And, why not employ the
oyster police during the close season
in conjunction with the county sur.
veyors locating these grounds. After
they are defined, lease them if you
please in 8 acre lots-the lessee to
pay SO much per annumn to the coun.
ty Commissioners and the money Ia
be used to make and repair the pub.
lie roads. In case of a contest over
grounds allow the tongers to name a
representative and he together with
the captain of the police boat and the
comfy surveyor to determine the dis
pute. Such plan would give would.
be planters a show and a. the same
time would not allow of a natural bed
or bar being taken up.