Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-16
State Fishery Force.

In his message Governor Smith
has the following TO say of the oys-
ter Industry:
THE value of the present oyster
law depends on the thoroughness
and impartiality with which It ise
forced. As a measure for the pro-
lection aud preservation OF the oys-
ter beds and the production of suffi-
cient revenue 10 support the State
fishery force, as at present admins
tered, il is success. The Legisla-
ture of 1900 found il necessary to
appropriate 81, 200 from the State
Treasury to meet accumulated de-
ficiencics in the oyster fund. At
the close of the last fiscal year, Sep
tember 30, 1901, there was asurplus
to the credit of the oyster fund of
$20, 4Tl.4s.
THE provision of the law requir-
ing the culling Of oysters, which is
its most important feature, has been
rigidly enforced, and should operate
10 the great advantage of the oyster
men, as the small oysters are left TO
grow. thereby insuring a better sup
ply for the succeeding season, and
the market is also relieved of the
demoralizing presence of large guam
titles of small oysters, which are
brought in competition with good
oysters and decrease their price
The good effects of the law are al
ready apparent, as the quality of the
oysters this season is unusually
good, and the catch will probably
be larger than the last. Intelligent
oystermen should aid the officers of
the State i'm detecting aud Furnishing
yioiats',pr- ti's. eali law. ana n Is TO
their obvious interest to do so, as
they cannot catch or destroy the
small oysters one season and hope
for good supply the next.
About s.7s2 boats of different de-
scriptions are engaged in catching
oysters in the waters of the State,
and it is important and good bust
ness policy that something be done
to keep up the supply of oysters and
extend the acreage Of the beds.
Il would suggest that your Honor
able Body authorize the expenditure
of 5000, to be appropriated from
the oyster fund, for oyster shells,
to be planted in the waters of the
State by experienced oystermen,
under the supervision and control
of the Commander of the State Fish
cry Force. The bottom 70 e,pIant-
ed should be selected, by the Com
mander. and -eho oysters should be
taken from same for twoyears there
after-A y 1s So So
:, Il would also recommend that the
tax of fifty cents per, month per man.
imposed by the Act of 1899 on the
hands employed ON dredge boats, be
repealed, as IL isunneeessary as a
measure for raising revenue, and it
seems unjust and oppressive.
Under present conditions Mary
land oystermen are at a serious dis
advantage in taking oysters from.
the waters of the Potomac river.
which IS used In common 10y the
eystermen of both Virginia. and
Msryland because shs ggErssyi ,,gS 81
han ours, and the penalty imposed
or its, violation is lighter. ! The
cause of complaint, how
,veH is the Intellectual enforcement
II their own law by The Virginia
and our oystermen just
= regard it as a hardship that they
ire prohibited from taking SMALL
'ysters which the Virginia oyster
nen are permitted TO catch on bot
ON which is common to both, and |
There equal. rights should be en-. |
Dyed. There is urgent need ofcon- |
harmonious legislation on
he part of Maryland and Virginia |
the taking,of oysters IN
he Potomac. and the provisions of
ne law should be impartially en-
breed, theeeby affording the resi- |
ents of neither State just cause OF /
omplaint.
The feet Of the State Fishery
'orce' at present consists of two
teamers, ten schooners and two
loops. -
Considerable money was requir-
1 BY the present Commander toges