Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-22
To The Oystermen of Annapolis And
Anne Arundel County,

1t has been known for years past, and
each year has demonstrated the truth, as
we see that oysters are becoming scarcer
and scarcer. that the dredging and the
scraping of oysters are destroying the
oyster beds Of the Chesapeake Bay. 1t
is the opinion OF the people all over the
Chesapeake Bay that If dredging and the
scraping of oysters is continued two years
longer the beds, the oyster rocks will be
entirely destroyed. Ii will be said "why
do you want to prevent the dredging of
oysters in deep water where the tongers
cannot catch them on account Of the
great depth with tongs?"
Those men who have made the oy ter
propagation study. and have inves,iga-
ted and experimen,ed. all agree that il is
the oyster in deep water which furnishes
the spawn, or spat. for oysters to grow in
shallow water. and those oysters should,
for that purpose, be LETT there. 1t is the
opinion OF all who are familiar with the
growth OF oy sters, that il the dredging
and scraping OF oysters are stopped for
five years, that the Chesapeake Bay will
be gold mine. II may and will be said
that il there is no dredging or scraping
oy sters will sell for very high prices; they
will sell tor 90 and 80 cents and 81 per
bushel.
Let me ask who is it and what class of
people is it that are destroying our oyster
beds, and causing our oystermen to sell
the result of their hard days work, a
labor that is attended with hardships of
every kind, for hardly enough to keep
soul and body togethers 1t is the dredg
ers and scrapers, and from where do
they Gomez Every fall the men who are
engaged in the shipping business to OBJ
tain crews to go aboard these vessels, go
to Boston, New York and Philadelphia,
and some have told me they have come
from as far as Chicago, St. Paul and Mil
waukee and other Western cities. 1t is
pictured 10 them that life aboard dredge
boat is most charming and enchanting.
They are induced to come here and when
they have made one trir, that is the last.
but, unfortunately, they stay here.
Go to the Houie OF Correction and
around the different charities in the
winter. tht sc organized 10 feed the des-
ttute. and ask eight out OF ten men you
see there Where did you come from.
and why did you come to this State p
They will tell you al came here to 90
dredging Time and time again we
see in the dead of winter those men come
ashore and bring their oilskin suits and
sell them for IS or 50 cents, and their
boots off their feet to GO 20 the nearest
whiskey place, and in half an hour they
will be seen laying on the street dead
drunk and have to be carted off to the
staiionhousc. They stay around and
have to be cared for by the State at the
House of Correction. and the various
charities. and in the spring from an army
farmers all over the State.
Ii is like harboring rats in barn, and
it is these people who are destroying the
oyster beds Of the Chesapeake Bay and
taking bread out of the mouths of our
oystermen and their families. From all
accounts the people all along the line
and all over the bay shore all agree that
unless the dredging for oysters is stopped
the oyster beds OF the bay will soon be
depleted, and great effort will be made
to have law passed at the next session
of the Legislature to prohibit the dredg-
ing and scraping Of oy sters in the Chesa-
peake Bay for five years. The oyster
men OF Anne Arundel county and Of An
napolis are asked to unite with the oys-
iermen Of the rest Of the State TO accom-
plish this purpose. and to do so you are
requested to confer with the undersigned,
who will give all persons any information
desired. A meeting will be called oi
which due notice viii be given.
c. A. DUBOIS.