Evening journal., 1893-03-13
FISHING FOR BIVlLVES.
Since the Season Opened 90
Per Cent. More Are Procured.
BUT FEW ARE NOW ON THE MARKET
Oyster Dredgers and Captains Tto BE
Looked After In the Future BY a Baiti-
more society-Protection for the
oyster Beds and the Oyster Dredgers.

Looked After In the Future BY a Balti-
more society-Protection for the
oyster Beds and the Oyster Dredgers.
The many and varied phases Of oyster
catching on the Chesapeake, the clashing
of the men engaged in handling the
luscious bivalves and the effect Of
market prices on the industry have been
reviewed by the breaking Up of the ice
on the Chesapeake and its tributary
rivers and bayous, and the announcement
that since the opening of the season 30
per cent more oysters are procured
daily.
The tales Of cruelty and tyranny Of
the captains of the oyster fleet brought
to this city by the companies of half
starved and frozen dredgers in January
have been proved to be but little ex
aggerated but the tyranny those tales
disclosed gives but slight idea of the
semi barbarism that prevails in the dis
puted waters along the Eastern SHIRE
When the season opened oysters were
drug on the market. There were too
many for either catchers or buyers and
packers to derive any profitable results.
All last fall the supply WAS enormous.
prices were consequently low and the
output hard to handle Later in the
season the supply was reduced but the
demand continued, prices advanced and
all the oysters that could be procured
after pas ing big prices TO the catcher
we're handled with ease and profit
The beds were not depleted, despite the
heavy drain upon them. The Gull law
was well enforced and all the cargoes
banded had been culled Of shells and
little oysters on the grounds where
caught and caused the matured oysters
which were still plentiful to be buried by
the cuttings so that a scrape or dredge
would become clogged with many cul-
lings and but few oysters.
After the long freeze which suspended
work six weeks and which depressed the
sdpertying stratum Of shells and small
oysters and exposed the natural and
escaped growth so that the oystermen's
tools could readily reach them, the sup
ply was as plentiful as before
Despite the manifest demand and the
abundance of supply the experiences of
the oyster crews with their tyrannic cal
captains has so decreased the force EN-
ployed on the beds that bat few oysters
are now in the market.
The Dredgers Unite for Justice.
To consider meaus for the protection
and the consideration of their rights a
meeting of representatives of benevolent
societies was held in Baltimore last
Friday night. The establishment Of a
bureau of the various societies repre-
sented in that city for the purpose of
bringing 70 the notice of the authorities
all acts of injustice, cruelty OF opprcs-
sion TO the dredgers was favorably con-
/ sidered and each Of the soele les was re.
/ quested to appoint two members OF q
| board for the oystermsns protection.
/ Tue maintenance of the bureau, it was
decided, is TO be paid out of a common
fund contributed by the organizations.
The Oyster War.
This season, as in all others past, ha.
been replete with disputes hoth wordI
and bloody, over the jurisdiction Of ths
bivalve producing waters. Raids and
rumors of raids have been many and the
Efforts of the Virginia aud Mary LAND
authorities to prevent the encroachmeni
of foreign pungies have been as energetic
aud quarrelsome as Of yOre
Captain A. j. Read, commander Of IT,
Virginia police schooner, Tangier. thus
speaks Of the recent raids on the oystei
beds under Virginia's care: "lhe feet O
boats lying in Crisdeld harbor February
10. which sought TO bulldoze US by claim
ing Baltimore as its home, has beer
ascertained, was made up of vessels from
Crsfeld aud Smiths Island The captain
evidently thought that the name Of Bal
timore was calculated TO strike terror &
tue hearts of all connected with the Vir
ginia oyster navy, but / did not trembl
worth cent as am fully aware tha
the bravery Of the captains of these g,
called Baltimore boats is not such as q
make any honest man fear them. If the.
imagine that they can sink the langie
as they threaten 70 do, let them try
and they will fud me ready 20 give then
a very warm reception.
Captain Reads militant remarks ar
only an echo of those heard on ever,
side Virginia disdains TO ask the CO
operation of Maryland In protecting tn
oy ster beds, and Maryland assumes al
air of lofty Independence when Virginia.
. aid is suggested
May Lease the oyster Beds.
Another problem which presents itsel
is the maintenance of the oyster beds
rhe revenues derived from the oyste
fund are falling off because Of the de
creased number of dredgers, while th
expenses are increasing because of III
purchase of new vessels and the expendi
lures necessary for keeping the old one
i'm repair. The western Mary lander
are becoming dissatisfied 10 paying take
for the support of the oyster interest
while they derive no benefit therefrom.
The passage of law by the mex
Maryland Legislature leasing the oyste
beds seems to be a probable sequel to IN
adjudication. Such law would make tn
taxes Uniform throughout the state an
would do much to qgen the present di.
satisfaction.
Kings Daughter Novel Contest.