The Republican., 1897-12-30
MARYLAND's OYSTER NAVY.


of the Terrnpin State Agree.
The naval militia is organized in IS
of the 45 states, and its trtal enlisted
membership is in excess of $500. The
Is states are Massachuse it's, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York Penn
sylvania, Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Louisi-
ana, California, Michigan, Illinois, and
New Jersey. These are. substantially,
the states having the largest coast line;
but Maine, Texas, Oregon, and WiscOn-
sin, four states with a considerable
coast line, are not represented among
them.
Maryland has in addition what is
known as an oyster navy or fishery
force. At the head of this force is a
commander, and there is fleet of t3
sloops and two steamers owned by the
state engaged in enforcing observance
of the Maryland laws which relates to
the oyster industry. How important
this industry is is shown by the act that
at the time of the census there were
33,3SS persons engaged in it in its vari-
GUS branches. The vessels employed
NUMBERED I,OEf, WIN O,OOf DOdlS, vi %
total value of $2,618,745. The capital
invested in shore property aggregates
S4,65O, 800, and the total investment in
the industry is $7,269.245 In all, H.
632, ,73O bushels of oysters were sold,
the equivalent of more than two billion
oysters for this one state. The protec-
zion OF the oyster interests of Maryland
has long been matter of more than
local concern, and the fishery fleet is
reinforced during six months of the
year by what are known as local guard
boats to the number of seven, stationed
in PocOmoke sound, Herring bay. Man
okin river, Chester river, Honga river,
Tired Avon river, and st. Mary's river,
| localities well known to those who adj
mire and appreciate Chesapeake bay
oysters.
Though the Maryland oyster navy is
| established on a nautical basis touch
! of sentiment is given to the fleet by the
names of the official sloops, which are as
| follows: Anna Smith, Julia Hamilton,
Nelly Jackson, May Brown, Helen
| Baughman, Daisy Archer Bessie Jones,
| nanny MERRY man, EllLd hayward.
| Mary Compton, Sally Jones, Frolic, and
| Folly. 1t seems difficult to see how even
| the most unsusceptible of oyster
| dredgers could resist the official atten-
| ton of a fleet thus designated and as q
fact the laws relating to the preserva-
| ton of oysters are better observed in
| Maryland than in any other state.
| Whatever differences of opinion exist or
| arise in Maryland, whether on the sub
| ject of party divisions of the usual sort
| or between the eastern shore and the
| western shore or on account of the al
ways-threatened, but never accom-
| plished removal of the capital from An
| napolis, oil Maryland men agree as to
| the necessity of strictly and sedulouslv
| observing the game laws, the fishery
| laws and the laws relating to oyster
! dredging and to the protection of the
| oyster beds. 1t is in this respect that
the oyster navy establishes its claim to
recognition as a local unifying force.
| and by circumspect enforcement OF
| such regulations, the oyster interests
| of the terrapin state have been pre-
served while those of some northern
states have been permitted to suffer
from either neglect or greCd.-N. Y.
| Sun.