The times., 1899-11-05
LIFE OF The OYS9ERMAN
Trials of the Captains Who Deal
in Bivalves.
Many Hardships to BE Endured-Buf-
feting the Elements and Dealing
with the Pirntical DredEer-COm-
PEELED to Pay Certain Price at
Times Through Fear of Violence.

The recent strike OF the oyster dredgers
of Chesapeake Bay and the lower Potomac
has added another chapter to the griev-
ences of the oystermen at the Eleventh
Street wharfs. and the difficulty expert
enced in securing the bivaIves promises TO
be as great as it has formerly been to dis
pose of them. This unfortunate state of
affairs between the oystermen, the whole
salers and the dredgers has occasioned
considerable comment, and the interest dis
played in the outcome is keen.
Those not familiar with the difficulties
and hardships which the oystermen are
compelled to undergo before their car
goes are finally landed at the wharves viii
no doubt be surprised when it is stated
that thousands of dollars worth Il property
and many lives are lost every year in the
pursuit of this industry.
The fleet of oyster boats which plies be-
tween Washington and the dredging
grounds of the lower Potomac during the
oyster season numbers about sixty vessels.
They are built after the sloop or schooner
model. with the exception of the hold,
which is much deeper than that usually
found in boats of this class. Speed and
large carrying capacity are the chief requi-
sites. Steam is not used, the margin of
profit being so small that its cost would
render the business unremuneratiye.
In the Captains Cabin.
The captains cabin, which is also used
by the crew in incIement weather. is
larger than one would suppose from the
insignificant poop which surmounts it. and
is fitted up with a table easy chairs
small coal stove and several hunks The
boat seldom carries over five men, inc.ud-
ing the captain, and their duties, outside
of trimming sail and standing the regular
watch, consist of loading and unloading
the boats at the dredging grounds. and
when they arrive in port The difficulty
in securing crews to man these boats has
been one of the most peTpleXiug prob ems
that the owners have had TO conteGd with.
Very few men care to undergo the hard
ships which are necessarily part OF the
life of an oysteTman, for the small com
pensation received Under favorable cir
cumstances the round trip can be made in
week, but under adverse conditions the
length of time required is considerably
more, often taking a month or six weeks.
When this delay occurs, as it very often
does during the winter months. by reason
of the floating ice and the difficulty expe
rienced in beating up the river against
the northwest gales, the suffering is in
tense. and very often the hardships en-
dured result in permanent disability or
death
The majority of the boats in the local
oystering fleet are owned by the captains
who command them. After securing a
crew and having overcome the clements in
reaching the oyster beds, there are still
greater obstacles with which they have to
contend The oyster dredgers, or pirates
as they are sometimes called, are often un-
scrupulous, and especially so in their deal
ings with the captains of boats Many of
them it is said, have developed an ability
to cheat that is remarkable. The oyster
man who escapes the pirates must indeed
be sharp, for many a one receives a basket
of empty shells in place of the genuine
bivalve
There is, not much good feeling between
the dredger Eand the Oysterman, such as
characterizes, the relations of wholesaler
and iobber in other lines of industry. In
fact the dredger considers the oysteTman
his legitimate prey. The captain OF an
oyster boat, therefore, who intends to re-
main in the business any length of time
must be man Of many resources.
At the Dredging Grounds.
When the oystermen arrive at the dredg-
ing grounds, there is a scramble among
the dredgers to secure the prospective or
der There is an -unwritten law among
them that the first man TO arrive within
hailing distance has the privilege of max
ing the sale. Should the price quoted
seem exorbitant TO the captain Of the boat,
he very often buys OF Someone else, but
in many cases he is compelled it is said
to accept the first price quoted to him
because of ugly threats and fear OF vlo-
lence.
Many men of lawless. character, il IS
said, are in the numerous inlets and cOves
which abound in this section, safe retreats
from the officers of the law, who are con-
tinually hunting for them, and although
one is occasionally captured. their famii-
iarity with every twist and turn of almost
inaccessible regions enables them in a
measure to defy anyone sent TO take them.
The captains of the local oyster fleet are
a kindly and generous set of men. Their
! better natures, strange TO say, are not
! spoiled by continuous trials in bufeting
| with the elements or coming continually
| in contact with the cOarser side OF human
! nature Indeed, il seems to make them ap-
| preciative of the better class of men, and
more considerate of other peoples inter
| ests The use Of strong language and in
! toxicants among them is proverbial, but
their hospitality and many acts Of kindness
are always in evidence at the times when
these qualities have q good opportun-
/ ity to show themselves The life of the
captain OF an oyster boat is not a bed
of roses and the average man among
them, considering his trials and difficulties
is to be admired for his patience his for
bearing. and his kindly disposition.