Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22
PRINCESS ANNE.
Clustering in Somerset Oounty--Personal
and News Notes.

anu news Notess
Special Correspondence OF tiazetto and journal
PRINCESS ANNE, March l5.-Perhaps one
half Of the population of Somerset county
Is composed of persons who have direct
personal interest IN the oystering industry
For many years the Legislature of Mary
land has been making laws the purpose of
which was to protect both the oyster and
the oysterman. No law thus far tried
seems to fiji all phases Of the question.
After all our experimenting We appear to
differ as radically us to the legislation
needed, as do the statesmen at Washing
ton on the details Of the pending Tariff
bill.
At this writing Colonel Legg of Queen
Anne's and Colonel Waters of Somerset
both directly representing oystering COM
munilies-are advocating, i'll the House
and Senate, respectively, measures that
differ so widely that, at many points, they
may be regarded as antagonizing, yet
each Of the above-named gentlemen is so
strongly backed and supported by his
constituency that he apparently feels it
his duty to defeat all legislation this year,
unless the measures he advocates can be
carried through the General Assembly.
This will leave the oystering laws where
they have been for the past two years,
which means that we are to be in some
what of a muddle. and between the horns
of most undesirable dilemma. Ii We
| don't protect our oysters we will soon have
none to protect. If we do protect them on the
| present plan it will cost the State far more
| than they are worth. Both the pending
measures look to reduction of the cost of
our oyster navy.
Our oystermGn say that the present has
| been very poor season for profit in their
| business. The weather has been too mild
| for them. So here we are confronted
| with another dilemma. If the winter is
| cold and stormy the demand for oysters is
brisk and the prices are good, but in that
| case on account of the weather, we can't
catch the oysters. If the weather is nice
we can catch lots of oysters but, III that
case, the demand is poor and we can't sell
them at such prices as we would like. The
conclusion quite generally reached by the
average oysterman, from these premises
| Qf the weather be mild) is, II had rather
loaf than oyster" One fine day in winter
the writer drove nine miles to meet the
incoming tongers and replenish his oyster
barrel. What was his establishment to
find the men lounging about the stores of
their village. preferring to be idle than to
catch or 10 bushels OF oysters each that
day and sell them at 40 to so cents per
bushel Acting on this principle among
laborers generally, would put stop to
most OF the industries i'll our land.
Another trouble is that while our oyster
| men are among bue GREATEST ClaiuOtSIS lOE
| law anywhere to be found there seems to
be among them great lack of reverence
for even the laws they have endorsed.
Their ethics seem to run about on thus
wise: ut is wrong to steal oysters il you
suffer yourself to get caught doing so. II
is wicked to dredge in forbidden waters
if you can't Outright or outsail the police.
The meek shall inherit the earth,' which
includes the water and all there is in it,
| and tha nvStprman are the napnE "
| A bill has been introduced in the Mary
land Legislature by Senator Waters to en-
| large the corporate limits of Princess
Anne. Thus far ore large and handsome
section of our town has been Qegally) in
the country.
s. IL. Book, one of the proprietors of the
Pocomoke roller mills, at this place, for
some time resident of Crisheld, has pur-
chased 10. here and will soon begin the
erection of a handsome residence. Mr.
Book and his family will be welcome
acquisition to our society.