The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-14
MAaYLAND's OYSTER NAVY.
one Subject on which All Inha bitant.
of the Terrapin State Agree.

of the Terrnpin State Agree.
The naval militia is organized in Is
If the As states, and its total enlisted
membership is in excess of $500. The
Is states are Massachusetts,, 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;
hut 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 ID
sloops and two steamers owned by the
state engaged in enforcing observance
IF 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 1924, with 1854 boats, of
invested in shore property aggregates
s. Csc, 500, and the total investment in
the industry is $7.269,245. In all. H.
2.73O bushels of oysters were sold.
the equivalent of more than two billion
oysters for this one state. The protec-
ton of the oyster interests of Maryland
has long been a 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
,kin river. Chester river, Honga river.
Tired Avon river, and ST. Mary's river.
| localities we'll known to those who adj
mire and appreciate Chesapeake bay
oysters.
Though the Maryland oyster navy is
established on 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 Merryman, Eliza Hayward,
Mary Compton, Sally Jones, Frolic, and
Folly. It seems difficult to see how even
the most unsusceptible of oyster
lredgers could resist the official atten-
ton of fleet thus designated and as a
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
Sect of party divisions of the usual sort
or between the eastern shore and the
western shore or on account of the al
vays-threatened, but never accom-
plished removal of the capital from An
napols. 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
,yster beds. 1t is in this respect that
the oyster navy establishes its claim to
recognition as 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,
| Sun.