Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-01-25
FOR PLANTING OYSTERS
A Bill Providing For Leasing of
the Barren Bottoms i'm
the Bay.

of the barren bottoms of the Chesapeake
bay for the cultivation of oysters The
measure excludes such natural beds or
bars where oysters grow naturally in
such quantities as Justify persons in re-
sorting tn it regularly for livelihood.
The act is not intended to apply to any
lands owned by private persons, the
bounds which extend into or beneath
the waters of this state; neither is il in
tend ed to affect in any matter the rights
of any person who shall have planted
oysters in accordance with, any existing
law in Maryland. Noi shall it be- so con-
strued as to apply to any creek. cove or
inlet less than 100 yards in width at its
! mouth at low tide.
The office of shellfish commissioner of
Maryland is created. whose term of Of
flee shall be four years, reckoning from
the first Monday of May. He is to be
appointed by the Governor. with the
advice and consent of the Senate The
salary of the commissioner shall be So
900 per year. and he is TO be allowed TO
employ clerk upon salary of $500
per year, and such assistance not more
than three i'll number, as may, be nec-
essary to assist him. He shall also be
allowed 10 employ Il competent surveyor
who shall also be a photographic engi-
neer. upon Il salary TO be named by the
commissioner, not exceeding S2500 a
year All salaries. outlays and disburse.
ments are to be paid out of the general
treasury of the state, the same to be re.
paid out of the first revenue arising
from the leasing of lands for oyster
culture The commissioner must give
Dond in 5000
COMMISSIONER = DUTIES
His duties include the keeping of a
record of all leases, assignments and
conveyaucrs of land. He must prepare
IA map showing the area available for
oyster culture, which is To be divided
into districts aud mum bered. and notices
that such districts are open for oyster
! culture must be advertised. Provision
is made that the land in the districts
shall be divided into sections, each OF
he as nearly rectangular as possible Nc
one person or corporation is permitted
to acquire greater interest than BOO
acres. The term of lease shall he 2t
years. and the annual rent sha II not be
less than 81 nor more than - an acre.
The bill then goes on to say: "For q
perion o three months after each of the
maps shall have been filed in the office
of the commissioner owners of land
having IA water front upon any part OF
the area therein indicated sha II have the
exclu >ive right, i'll the order of their ap
plicatiou. To lease any secti on, or portion
nf section, or portion or two or more
sections, adjecent to their lands. and
for an additional two months after the
expiration of saiu period all boatmen
residents of this state, who, at the time
of the passage of this act, shall be act
ually engaged i'll the business of tong
ing dredging or scraping for oysters
shall have the like exclusive right as to
any lands Included in said map. Pro
vided that i'll no event shall any land
owner. or boatman, or other person. be
permitted 10 lease more than 300 acres
of snch land from the state"
RIGHTS OF LICENSES
In case any one desires to contest the
right of AN applicant he must pay the
commissioner 50, and put his objections
in writing The commissioner may
summon witnesses and take testimony
under oath. Should tenant whose
lease expires i'll 20 years not pay his
rent the commissioner shall declare the
lease forfeited.
The lease of any land shall have ex-
elusive ownership of and title 10 all oys-
tiers planted by him, but he cannot
transfer his interest To any non resident
After providing for IA manner of set
thing disputes, the bill says it shall be
lawful for any tonger to take up oys-
tiers of any size from the natural beds
or bars between April IL and June ID.
provided oysters measuring less than
two and one half inches i'll shell meas
urement from hinge tu mouth of the
shell may be- sold only To persons en-
gagged III the industry of planting and
cultivating oysters within the area des-
ignated i'll this section.
The bill provides for the intro
duction of general system of oyster
culture, under which the natural oyster
beds which lie beneath the Chesapeake
bay and its tributaries will be left TO
the public. as at present. and the now
barren bottoms of the SAME waters will
be leased to individuals in tracts, not
exceeding 300 acres. Farmers owning
land adjacent to waters fit for oyster
culture will be given the first right to
lease land under such waters. Then
boatmen. actually engaged. when the
law is passed, i'll the oyster business.
! will be gwen the second choice. After
, this. the citizens of the state generally
will be given the privilege of selecting
trrcts of land for oyster cul.ure. Such
law would. according TO the most con
servative estimates have heard, pro
duce To the state in cash every year from
$500, 600 to $500.O0O. 1t would also. AT
the least. according TO such prudent es-
Inmates. treble the present supply OF
oysters.