Evening journal., 1900-09-29
HOT WEATHER
AFFECTS OYSTERS
Numerous EXactiOnS in Mary
land Which Hamper
the Packer

Baston, Nd. Sept. 29.-Oysters in
Talbot waters, except az Poplar Island,
are IN very poor conmtion at the be-
ginning Of the season, 30 that but a
few Of the packers have opened their
houses This is to De expected after
such hot and calm Summer. In these
almost currentess waters oysters must
depend upon the agitation Of the water
by winds and the rise and fal. Of the
tides 10 bring them food There were
three months Of calm weather, and al.
Summer the tides were unusually
quiet. Often for a week at time
there was a variation OF not more than
from four to six inches between high
and low water.
The tongmen are at work, but they
have no market to depend upon. Many
OF them are laying down the oysters
they are catching. hoping that better
markets viii follow cooler weather
Much Improvement IN the condition OF
the oysters is not looked for before
the middle Of Octber Marketable
oysters are very scarce. 1t Is said on
the longing grounds. There Is much
young growth. but the rigid enforce
ment Of the Gull law by the inspectors
prevents the catching of the young
fellows. There are bottoms in Talbot
waters where the oysters never grow
to marketable size, as provided In the
Gull law however old they become
oysters on these bars have quiet and
peaceful time.
The oyster packers claim that tho
amendments 10 the oyster law made
at the last session OF the Legislature
hamper them very much In their busl-
ness and increase their expenses be-
yond reason. One Of the heaviest
packers in Talbot county says Il
shall not open my house until very
late in the FAN. and / may not open
Il here during the who,e season. The
exaetlons now required by Jaw annoy
as well as hamper the packer. II Is
not pleasant to have to do business
under the surveillance OF officials
whose knowledge and Judgment are
apt to be at fault, however honest they
may be IN intentions. To the license
we are charged with we have tQ pay
an additional sum, according to the
business we do, to pay salaries OF In
spectoIs and measurers. The profits
On the business are very small. and
these charges interfere very seriously
with them. Maryland legislation ls
driving the Chesapeake oyster packing
business to Virginia. I can get Vir-
ginia oysters and not have them In
epected and measured by the Maryland
officials but / can save money IN
transportation by going there with my
capital and business instead OF having
the oysters brought to me here In
cargo sCts to be shucked. ] shall open
a house on the Rappahannock. look
Tor the dullest oyster season Maryland
has known for thirty years In all
branches Of the trade. There are now
more vessels heretofore engaged in
dredging and scraping oysters for sale
than I have ever known before"
The crab business proceeds at its full
height and Will continue until the cold
weather drives the crabs TO Winter
quarters. Until this year the crab
business closed when the oyster sea-
son began. but the crabbers are keep
ing right along now. The packers
have large orders and the catches OF
crabs are as large as they were at any
time during the season. There Is nc
diminutlon IN the output.