Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-18
MARYLAND OYSTER BEDS.


An Inspection by Commander Howard
Reports From Tnugier Sound, Potomac
River and Patuxent River.
Baltimore sun special.
CAMBRIDGE, MD, Oct. 16.-The oys'
ter season for dredging and scraping
will opened in the waters of Maryland
and Virginia yesterday. Commander
Howard Of the State oyster police navy,
arrived here Saturday afternoon from u
trip OF Inspection Of the oysters beds of
Maryland. He left Baltimore on Tues
day, October 9th He proceeded to
Crisfield, Nd, where he met the State
steamer Governor McLane, Captain
James Turner, who has been doing
guard duty In Tangier sound and the
Potomac river. Leaving Crisfield Com
mander Howard male his first stop in
Tangier sound. 1t is from these waters
that the great bulk of the oyster crop is
reaped, and it was here that the first ex-
animation was made to ascertain the
condition of the oysters and see what
would be the probable output for this
season.
Oysters were taken from various
rocks, and while their condition was
not what could be called prime, yet
they were in fair condition and will
probably increase in flavor and size
during the season. One thing was
surely demonstrated, namely, that the
culling law, which has been in force for
the past two seasons, has already proved
the wisdom of returning small oysters
aud shells to the oyster rocks. While
the growth of young oysters was not as
great as last year, yet in Tangier sound
there has been fair catch Of spawn. A
longer, when spoken to about the Gull
law, said: "If the culling law is properly
enforced we will have oysters always"
In the Potomac river, where there is
common right Of fishing, the oysters
were found to be both fat and of excel
lent flavor. The catch of spawn in the
Potomac has not been as great this year
as has previously been the case. Why
this is so is a mystery, as the spawning
season was all that could be looked for,
yet there is but moderate growth of
young stock. The oysters in the upper
bay and tributaries are in better condi-
ton than in the lower bay.
Oystermen in the Patuxent river
complain OF the scarcity Of stock, and
seem at loss to account for the gradual
disappearance of the oysters there. One
who is well posted says the scarcity is
due to the constant use of patent deep
water tongs, which are almost entirely
used by the oystermen along the waters
of the PatuXent. With these new tongs
oysters are caught in the deepest water,
and by constantly disturbing them in
spat or spawn which would be carried
to shosl waters.
Commander Howard is Of the opinion,
however, that the season will be good
one. There will be more vessels licensed
to oyster in Chesapeake bay than last
year. This is largely due to the un-
certainty Of the result of the vote on
closing Tangier sound for two years.
This question will be submitted to the
voters of Somerset county at the No
vember election and oysterlnen are TAX
ing out bay licenses rather than run the
risk of having to buy two sets of papers
in the event of closing the sound.
The time fixed by the law of 1894 for
taking oysters meets with the approval
of majority of the people engaged in
the oyster business. BY the new law
the time of dredging and scraping is
made 10 days later. Under the old law
the oyster seas IN opens at time when
the packers of the city have not gotten
through with the fruit season. When
the first oysters were sent to market they
were usually disposed of at nominal
figures. Opening 10 days later gives
the packers ample time to make prepara.
tons to receive the oysters, and as the
weather is generally cooler higher
Drices will prevail,
Oystermen do not doubt that good
prices will be paid during the season.
One of the largest as well as one of
the oldest, oystermen of Tangier sound
said he never knew bad season to fol-
low the failure of q fruit crop, and as
the crop of fruit was failure this year
he felt sure the demand for oysters
would be good. AS an evidence of faith
in this expectation more boats are ready
to engage in the business this season
than for several years.
Commander Howard gave the captains
of the assistant vessels of the oyster
navy instructions to keep sharp eye
on violations and to see that the culling
law is carried out to letter. All of the
vessels in the oyster navy were inspected
and found TO be in excellent condition.
This is largely due to the personal super
vision of repairs TO the boats by Com
mander Howard.