Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-03-22
THE OYSTER LAW.


ed to the Senate, March Z. and sub
sequently passed by that body with
but one dissenting vote Senator
Griffith, Of Calvert.
The Bill creates a Board OF Shell Fish
Commissioners, one to be resident OF
the Eastern Shore, one to be resident
OF the tide water counties OF the Vest
ern Shore. and the third resident OF
Baltimore City. The president OF the
Commission Is TO receive salary OF
~. 200 per year, and his associates each
$500 per dnnum. They. are to have q
chief clerk at a salary OF 81, 200 and
three assistantclerks at salaries of $1,000
each.
A true and accurate survey Of the nat
ural beds and bars is to be made by n
photographic engineer, employed BY the
commission, at a salary not exceeding
81, 900 per year. The Commission In de-
timing natural beds and bars is to exer-
else its judgment literally and allow a
reasonable margin Of barren bottoms
rather than encroach on natural bed
or bar. Tweaty-four or more residents
Of any county may appeal 50 the Circuit
Court from the Liberal judgment" Of the
Commission il they deposit $50 as pay
ment oneosts. All grounds not shown
in the survey TO be natural beds or bars
are to be considered TO be barren bot
toms" The County Commissioners are
authorized 70 appoint resident Of their
county, well acquainted with the lOca-
ton Of natural oyster beds, TO assist the
photographic engineer to locate the nat
ural bars in the waters of such county
The assistants compensation is to be IS
per day when actually at work.
Leases are TO be made, 81 iots not ex-
ceeding 10 acres, only to residents OF
Maryland; the terms 81 the leasea are
to be 20 years and the annual rental re-
served to the State il TO be 81 an acre
for the first two years 81 an acre for
the third year; 80 an acre for the fourth
year; 8 4 an acre for the fifth year, and
50 an acre for each Of the subsequent 81
teen years. II rental be due and unpaid
on lease for over six months, the lease
shall be declared void and the land re-
vert to the State.
From natural beds, designated BY the
Commission, tongprs may take oysters
between April l 3 and May is, under reg
ulations prescribed by the Commission,
same to be delivered only upon leased
lands for the purpose Of planting or cul-
tiyating. Any lessee may take oysters
from his lands Ia any manner be pleases
without securing a license
For four months after survey is com
pleted the riparian landowner Is TO have
first choice 81 not more than ten acres
Tor following six months boatmen, resi-.
dents 81 the State, engaged IN oystering,
hage next pick Il order 81 their applica-
general pubic nsesi Frs9 esssss.s-s ~ y a..
The natural beds or bars are to be
marked by State buoys and 1t ID TO be a
penisentiary oiiense to remove such buoy
or tie O bont TO one.
Revenues arising from leases are to be
applied, FIRST to payment OF salaries;
balance, over and above $4,000, TO be
placed TO credit of q special fund to be
called Special Road Fund
OF course, we are opposed TO the
bill. II creates lot oisuseless off,
GERS. with liberal salaries attached,
and does nothing thatmight not have
been accomplished at much less ex-
pense by amending the present B.
acre law.
II Is against the interest Of all
tide water farmers, because ii adds
q month to the oyster season In the
busiest farming time Of the year.
It's unjust to riparian owners be-
cause IL gives boatmen from any
where in the State the right to an
allotment to the exclusion Of mem
bers Of the landowners family or
inland neighbors aud may thus put
notorious oyster pirate 90 each
end Of the riparian owners lot.
What is q barren bottom 7 What
is the use OF leasing a barren bot
tom? There is the best Of authority
that seed thatfalls upon good ground
will spring up and yield fruita hun
dred fold, but barren produces
nothing lis sterile. 1.-THE law means
to say barren bottom and depict.
ed bottom are synonymous terms, il
should say ii plainly Why equivo.
cate7 Equivocation Is 70 goaler to
bring forth some monstrous mails.
factor. Are laws writ only TO con.
ceal their meaning?
We are not only opposed to multi
plying expensive Offices but on pvin-
cipal we are opposed to creating
private ownership, either leasehold
or ia fee, Of public property, and the
lands under the waters or Maryland
are public property and have been
since, the settlement Of the State.
The English founders 81 the Colony,
mindful OF the cruel and yindictive
game and fishery laws Of old Eng
land. intended to here preserve for
ever the right Of free fishery and so
Incorporated an acknowledgment Of
the right in our Charter. II has
ever been reserved right Of the
people for It has never been sur
rendered by them ID any Constitii.
tion they have ever made. The
State holds the lands under the
waters IN trust for all It's people.
and while II may regulate the right
Of fishery so as to prevent the ex-