Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-03-10
The Hannah Oyster Bill.


OF the new Hannah Oyster Bill. Some
Of its features we have heretofore
printed, but the new Bill differs
from the old one in some important
respects.
Both Bills seek TO create costly
commission to superintend the pro-
posed leasing Of theoyster lands and
both require the fling Of applica-
tons for locations OF lots and pay
Inent Of fees for same.
We think there are several we'll
developed serpents in the bill and
are Of the opinion that residents Of
the tidewater counties and oyster
men will but need to glance at the
following sections TO discover them.
Section 20 And be il enacted,
That it shall be lawful for any ton
ger between the 18th day Of April
and the 18th day Of June, in any
year, 10 take oysters from the ma
tural beds or bars OF the Chesapeake
bay and its tributaries. provided,
however, that such oysters shall
not measure less "a inches in shell
measurement from hinge TO mouth
Of the shell. and provided also, that
said oysters may be sold only FOR
the purpose now permitted under
the existing laws OF Maryland. dur
ing the season OF the year above
mentioned. and in addition thereto
to persons engaged in the industry to
planting and cultivating oysters
within the area designated within
those sections. the same to be de-
livered only upon lands which may
have been leased under the pro-
visions of this law for said purpose
Of planting and cultivation.
Section Il. And be enacted, il That
i; shall not be necessary for any
holder Of oyster land under this Act
to take out any license for dredging,
scraping or longing. and oysters on
such land may be taken up in such
manner as may be desired by the
holder of such land.
Section % And be it enacted,
That any person who shall wilfully
and without authority take oysters
from ground leased under the pro-
visions Of this Act, or who shall
wilfully- injure such ground in any
manner, or injure the oysters there
upon situated, or interfere with the
stakes, buoys or monuments mark
ing the same, shall be deemed gull
ty OF misdeneanor, and upon con-
viction thereof, shall be sentenced
TO Imprisonment in Jail or the peni-
tertiary, in the discretion OF the
Court. for term not exceeding two
years.
Section 23. And be il enacted,
That it shall be the duty of all Of
ficers and members of the State
Fishery Force TO arrest persons
violating this Act.
A mere cursory reading OF section
20 will evidence how it is proposed
&c render all natural beds and bars
barren by allowing Clustering on them
during the closed and spawning
seasons in order to enrich and fer
tilize the locations of the lot owners.
The Bill ought to have been denom-
mated, IA Bill entitled an Act TO
rob the beds and bars of all the peo-
pie aud to enrich locations leased to
q few.
The revenues derived for the
State and for Public Schools are
also to~6e cut of by the provision
allowing oysters to taken from pri-
vate locations without the necessity
of securing license. In other
words a privilege the State has re-
fused its industrious laborers is 10
be thrown at the heads of we'll to do
lot owners. IL the Bill is passed,
for few years at least, there will
be no such thing as securing farm
labor in tidewater Maryland for il
will all be on the natural bars rob-
bling them for the enrichment of the
private locations.
The demand for this bin comes from
baltimore City and the people of tide
water Maryland have before experienced
the tender solicitude Of the city for their
fishery interests. In 1885 in order to al
low vessels trading to and from Balti-
more TO pass ont OF the Chesapeake Canes
without paying Virginia tonnage tax q
compact was entered into by which that
Commonwealth was given equal fishery
right in the Potomac River and the birth
right oil Marylanders was sold for a mess
Of potage for Baltimore. Now, in 1904,
baltimore ~ demanding the lease Of the
chesapeake oyster grounds to satisfy the
rapacity and greed of its capitalists.
The State ought ever to hold It's owner
ship in the oyster grounds and conserve
and preserve them for the benefit of all
ITS citizens. State ownership of oyster
lands Is the only safeguard against the
creation oil an oyster monopoly. When
the birthright OF Marylan6ers to the lands
under the waters il once legislated away
and they have been leased TO corpora
lions, the end win be speedy Of the
last title OF public ownership for public
good. Then an awakening will be too
late. 1t is easy to give a valuable fran