The Meeker herald., 1898-11-19
MARYLAND'S OYSTER NAVY.
One suojcrt Oh which All Iahahjtart.
of the Tcrrarin State Agree

of the Tcrrarin State Agree
The naval militia is organized IN 10
of the 45 states, and its total enlisted
membership is in excess of $500. The
Is states are Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, Penn
sylvaitis, Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Louisi=
ana, California, Michigan, Illinois. and
New Jersey. These are, substantially,
the states having the largest coast line;
but Maine, Texas. Oregon, and Wiscon-
sin, four states with considerable
coast line, are not represented among
them.
Marylnnd has in addition what is
known as an oyster navy or fishery
force. At the head OF this force is
commander, and there is a fleet of 10
sloops and two steamers owned by the
state engaged in enforcing observance
of the Maryland laws which relates to
the oyster industry. How important
this industry is is shown BY the act that
at the time of the census there were
23,3SS persons engaged in it in it's vari-
Gus branches. The vessels employed
numbered l,G2i, with 6,554 boats, of a
invested in shore property aggregates
S4,G5O, 500, and the total investment in
the industry is s7,a6y ,ai5. In all. H.
G32.73O bushels of oysters were sold,
the equivalent of more than two billion
oysters for this one state. The protec
tion Of the oyster interests OF Maryland
has long been n matter of more than
local concern, aud the fishery feet is
reinforced during si2 months of the
year by what are known as local guard
boats to the number of seven, stationed
in Pocomoke sound, Herring bay, Man
olin river, Chester river. lIoNpa river,
Tired Avon river, and ST. Mary's river
localities well known to those who ad-
mire and appreciate Chesapeake bay
oysters.
Though the Maryland oyster navy is
established on q nautical basis touch
of sentiment is given to thestlcct by the
names Of the official sloops, which are rs
follows: Anna Smith, Julia Hamilton,
Nelly Jackson, May Brown, Helen
Baughrann, Daisy Archer, Bessie Jones.
Nanny Mcrryrlan, Eliza T2$ward,
Mary Compton, Sally Jones, Frolic, and
Folly. 1t tscCmS difficult to SEQ ECw even
the most unsusccptiblc of oyster
dredgcrs could resist the Official atten-
ton of fleet thus designated and rs a
fact the laws relating to TIE prcserva-
tion 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-thrcatcncd. but never accom-
plished removal OF the capital from An
hapolis, all Maryland men agree as to
the necessity of strictly and sedulously
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 it's 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 greed.-N. Y.
S,,f,