The morning times., 1897-02-21

comprehcnded the leasing of barren bot
toms for oyster planting and the reserva-
ton of natural beds for common usage.
Under the law any person might lease
from the State as much as 250 acres OF
bottom, for which he must pay 81 per
acre tax each year. As a result OF this law
tile oyster farming which is playing such
an important part in the future of the in
dustry sprang up, and many people pre-
eInpted their allowance up to the last acre
The scientists say that the oyster i'll
its enbryCtic state is a free swimming
ciiated fish, and that for it's full develop
ment it is necessary thatit should find lodg
ment on some hard substance lyingin water
which is agitated by tides or currents OF
sufficient strength TO furnish the sediment
which comprises its food. Once lodged IN
some stationary object, it speedily begins
to form its own shells and develop into the
delicious mollusk which is SO highly es-
teemed all over the world.
The prospective farmer, after having
staked off his claim, at once purchases
several cargoes of oyster shells from tie
packing companies, deposits them on his
claim, and awaits results. Aftertw years
if he has chosen good location, he may
be sure that the fruits of his labors are
ready for the reaping, and he can take up
his shelly treasure and find a re ady market
for it in any of the big cities, but more
particularly in Baltimore, the great oys-
ter mart of the country.
But before this happy climax is reached
the average farmer has had to contend
with difficulties, which entirely eclipse
the troubles OF the average agrioulturist.
The elements are not his enemies, but he
finds his worst foe in his brother man.
One would suppose that the attempt to
revive and keep alive the industry could
not meet with opposition; but the dredger
who gets his oysters from the public rocks
and sells the cargo direct to the shipper
regards the planter as his worst enemy,
and loses no opportunity to do him an in
jury by stealing his oysters under cover of
night and harassing him in every possible
way.
1t is hard to say why this is the case. If
you ask the dredger why he hates the
planter he will tell you because he regards
him as a competitor in the market, and
because he is attempting to revolutionize
the established order of things. He does
not or will not, realize that the planter is
"a result of his own abuse of natures
treasures, so he hates him with blind
unreasoning hatred.
One of the earliest and consequently
most important of these farms is that
belonging to Capt William Ellinger, a
native Raltimorean He purchased, in
1892, the chain of islands lying between
Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, which are
In IS1
time he has been constantly striving to
gain the reward for his laboIs, to which
the law entities him. Just across the
north end of the small island runs the
boundary line between Virginia and Mary
land, and not dozen yards In Virginia
is located the dwelling Of Capt. Ellinger.
The house is known to the superStitiouS
oystermen as "Blizzard's Haunted House,"
and many the weird tales they tell among
themselves concerning the high revels which
it's supposed ghostly Inhabitants hold upon
wild and stormy nights. Blizzard, who
built the house, was the proprietor Of a
ssspeakeasy," and he drove a thriving trade
for several years in dispensing spirituous
refreShment to the oysterrnen of the sur
rounding waters. One day thirsty wa
terman sailed up to the island, and he saw
Blizzard sitting on the front porch in
position that was strangely silent and mo-
tionless Coming closer, he saw that the
outlaw was dead, his gun clenched in his
hand. 1t was never known whether he
killed himself Intentionally or not, but
many suppose that he had gotten his gun to
shoot duck and had accidentally discharg-
ed it while coming through the door. From
that time the house has been haunted
and the fear of the lawlcss watermen has
undoubtedly been it's best protection.
Capt EIlinger is man OF nerve, and