Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-10


away down here to ourselves, separated
from all of the waters of the Chesa-
peake and its tributaries. so that our
exemption could in no possible way
conflict or interfere with the execution
of the law pertaining to these waters.
WORCESTER OYsTERMAN.
OCEAN CITY, MD, FEB, 4. Sinepux-
ent Bay ought to be, and it would be, val
liable for oyster culture if the salt
water of the ocean could be diverted
into the bay by canal at or near Ocean
City. This enterprise has often been
suggested, and a company was formed
a few years ago to dig the canal, but it
never accomplished its purpose.
Sinepuxent oystermen are anxious
that the state Legislature should give
the necessary aid. Few enterprises, it
is claimed, promise so much and of such
lasting good. The experience of the
past has established beyond reasonable
doubt that a proper degree of sadness
in the water and an ordinary current of
tide will make this bay mine of wealth
for present and future generations.
The Americans correspondent at
Onancock recently related the success
which has followed oyster planting
around Chincoteague Island and in the
bays and inlets on the Atlantic side of
the Virginia Peninsula.
Sinepuxent Bay is a continuation of
Chincoteague Bay, the line of Maryland
passing near Franklin City, in Accomac
county, Virginia. on the mainland. to
few yards above Pope's island Iifc-sav-
ing Station. on the Atlantic. From this
point to Ocean City the distance is
about 40 miles. and the bay varies in
width from three to eight miles. with
five miles as an average width. 1t
thus contains about 200 square miles, or
l25, 900 acres. Locally, it is known as
Great Bay" from the Virginia line TO
South Point, and then rs Sincpuxent
Bay. The depth of the water ranges
from three to eight feet.
a REAL BONANZA.
The only inlet from the Atlantic is
Chincoteague, at the south end of Chin
colleague Island. Up to 1871 there was
a shallow inlet near Green Run, navi-
gable for vessels of eight-feet draught.
which entirely filed up that year or the
next. Two years previous to that time
oysters were caught up to and beyond
South Point. and they became market
able in 1861. For the year 1871, 1872,
1873 and 1874 the residents of that
section had more than a bonanza.
Farms were deserted. and fully 100 little
vessels were built. carrying from 100 to
400 bushels. with cabins for crews of
from three to six men. From s. to SIS
was the reward for the usual days
work per man. Here, as at Chincoteague
the larger size oysters were sold and
the "culls" planted. This growth,
however, was exhausted in 1874 and
there has been no large catch since.
Plants from the Chesapeake and from
North Carolina have been used and are
still being planted few miles above
; the Virginia line. and with profit, but
there has been no large catch of spat.
; Last year there was small catch in To-
calities as far north as South Point, but
it did not thrive.
The catch of spat in the first place in
Sinepuxent Bay was evidently due to
increased planting ut and near Chinco-
league Island and extended further and
further up the Bay for two or more
years. With the closing of Green Run,
the last of the inlets, came conditions
in the water that made the further
growth Of oysters out of the question.
This is. however, an excellent illustra-
ton of the benefits to waters adjacent
to those in which planting was done.
} The growth is not always confined to
the grounds planted. but the spat
steadily expands in surrounding waters
and the area is always being enlarged.
} OPENING or AN INLET.
The only remedy for this depletion in
the growth of oysters in Sinepuxent
Bay, and the only thing necessary 70
make this sheet of water as valuable.
probably, as any in the world for oyster
culture. is the reopening of an inlet
, from the ocean between Ocean City and
Green Run. Without this the water Is
. too brackish and the force Of the tide
, too weak.