The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-18
The Advantages Of Oyster Cultivation

The Advantages OF Oyster Z cultivation.
From, the Baltimore san.
II the expressions OF some who speak for
the oystermen of Maryland on the subject
of oyster planting are TO be accepted as the
true exposition Of the views of this large
and deserving class of fishermen they are
opposed to selling OF leasing the cay bottom
because they fear to be made the slaves OF
corporations, monOpOlies anu syndicates.
They fear also that conveying property
rights in these lands will operate TO exclude
the poor oystermsn from the pursuit OF his
daily occupation and cut him or from the
live ihOOd which free waters enable him 10
earn. There seems to be but very little diff
ference Of opinion about the fact of deple-
ton. Ex-COmmander Plowman of the state
fishery force, goes so far as to predict that
by the year 1890 the @ esapeake bay will be
as barren of oysters as an Arabian desert.
Every consumer and every dealer and
packer knows that each year the supply is
diminishing, so that il is hardly worth
while to consider this branch of the subject.
What all are concerned about Is to bring
back the old fecundity Of our waters and
increase the supply. Free fshingn has
nearly destroyed the oyster interests of the
state, and il will have to be abandoned ba-
cause IL Is no longer remunerative. 1t
would hardly meet the case to close the bay
Tor term of years simply because one class
"a AoLGi iiGn AChA bulh NA4bbhNA GLASS Will
secure the privilege of making barren
fields productive, or because capital
and enterprise will seek investment
in tn at (which the laws shall make free
aud TO pen the industry and energy OF every
body. What the situation demands is not
the consideration in particular of any one
class, but of the best interests of the whole
people of the state. The waters and the
oyster bottoms are not exclusively the prop
erty Of the tidewater counties, and the
questions that have arisen must not be de-
cided exclusively in accordance with the
wishes Of a portion of the people living in
these counties. The bay fishermen have
their rights in the common fisheries Just as
the people have who live in the cities or in
the Allegheny mountains, but the trouble
is that we have worked the common right
until nothing is LETT in common, or very
nearly nothing.
VIII @ change Of policy from common
fishing rights to planting rights deprive the
fisherman OF his means OF living, or en-
slave him. or keep him out of the field of
competition! 1t will do neither. His danger
is in being misled into obstructing plans
which cannot fail to improve his condition
and at the same time open the door for
large enterprises. Properly protected plant>
ing will afford the fisherman steady en-
ployment and a certain livelihood, which
cannot be guaranteed to the most success
full among them at present Under the
proposed change the oyster planter will be
as secure in the ownership OF the oysters in
their beds as the farmer on land is of the
potatoes in their hills If he cannot find
work enough On his own grounds he may
obtain employment of neighbor and II he
is industrious and cares TO pursue his CALI
ing with the sustained labor necessary to
make any pursuit thrive, he cannot fail to
become independent il the true aud best
sense Of the word.
The impending change is forced by condi-
tions, and it cannot DO stayed very long un-
less the people of Maryland make up their
minds to throw away golden opportunity
for developing a most abundant source Of
wealth. The oyster interests are not sin
gular in this respect, and changes are being
made in the methods of almost every bust
ness pursuit. The merchant or manufect-
urer, or even the farmer who sticks to old
systems and methods, will be left" and
many have gone undern who, by promptly
adapting themselves to new conditions,
would have been more prosperous than
ever. Things do not stand STILL Men
must move along with enterprises
as they ere shaped by changes in
processes and methods. Instead Of the
Chesapeake oysterman being made poorer
or more dependent as a planter than
as a predatory fisherman, he could not
less toll and far less uncertainty than
| attends his present occupation. If these
fishermen, who know the ground thorough
ly. consult their own interests, they would
go for planters rights instead of fighting
the inevitable. and being left out in the cold
at last
1t is hardly to be supposed that the legis-
lature would place the allotment fee out
Of the reach of the poorest, and for all the
rest, fishermen by occupation would enjoy
nearly all the advantages from the outset.
It is quite true that capital will embark in
oyster planting, and that companies will be
formed to develop the industry for the
wealth that it promises. but why should
any objection be raised TO their doing so,
when capital is just what is wanted to de-
velop all our resources on land and waterg
The more capital employed the greater the
demand for labor. and in every case expert
OF skilled labor must get the preference, so
that, whether the Chesapeake fisherman
elects to plant his own lot or work on the
farm Of richer neighbor, or combines the
two opportunities, he will be benefited
rather than injured by the changed system
when it shall come.