Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-18

vessels and other equipment necessary to
carry on the oyster industry in Delaware
VIII amount to about 100000. This is
the estimate given by some of the men
engaged In the oyster business, and other
persons who have watched the progress
OF the industry say that the above fig
ures are about right. The estimate of
the value Of the output is 100000 at
this time, but a few years ago 10 amount
ed TO much more than this. Most of the
men engaged in gathering the oysters
and taking them to markets where they
are disposed of TO the retail dealers are
Delawareans. The fact that the State
provides that the crew of the oyster
boats must be residents of Delaware
practically limits the supply 10 lower
Delaware. The wages paid are about S35
a month Besides this. the men get their
board while on the boats. Their en-
ployment lasts for the greater part Of
the year. During the closed season they
work on the farms adjacent to the bay
shore.
During the past year there has been
much violation of the laws, but the guard
boat has not succeeded i'm catching any
of the oyster pirates. The guard boat
usually anchors near the shore, at Bow
er's Beach or a Mahons Ditch, for the
night. Knowing this, the pirates run out
at night, contrary to the law, and 60 to
work on the natural rocks, as well as on
the plantation where oysters have been
planted. They will work the greater part
of the night mmolested, taking away
many bushels of oysters. Before day
light in the morning when the guard
boat goes to the banks the pirates will
be of.
Another favorite time for poaching has
been on Sunday when the guard boat has
| been tied up at anchor. The crew, on
several occasions, has been notified OF
this fact and has started after the law
breakers. but they always managed TO
escape. The poaching has been so ire
quent that it has now been arranged TO
/ have the guard boat stay on the banks
/ an day Sunday fully manned.
In Delaware, the law divides the oys-
I termen into two classes, those who fish
on the natural rocks and those who work
on the plantations ANY resident Of the
| State can secure fifty acres or more OF
the bay bottom, on which TO plan oys-
ters. by applying TO the oyster collector
| He will survey the space and after the
fee is paid all the owner has to do IS to
stake il Off. For these planting tax OF
SO cents an acre is levied, payable an
nuallv From those who wish 70 Worh
on the natural rocks, tax of $3.50 a ton
for the boat or vessel (Custom House
measurement is collected. The payment
of this tax allows the owner Of the yes
sci or vessels to dredge on any OF then
own plantations without paying an add
tioual tax. From those who do not oys
Ter on the natural rocks, tax of $3.50 q
ton on each vessel is charged for dredg
ing on the plantations they have takei
up. a
According to the collector, there vii
be sixty boats working on the natura
rocks and plantations where oysters iron
the natural beds are planted before th
season closes. There are already owe
fftv-fve boats in the fleet. Betweel
1000 and . 500 acres of oysters have heel
planted on beds taken up by planters
Three hundred acres were new beds TN
wear. On the sixty boats about 800 me
will be mployed
In until the first Il September, III
collector had collected in licenses, So,zO'
and by December he expects to collee
several hundred more.
The amount collected this year Is se'
eral hundred dollars in excess OF IN
j amount collected in 1904 In that yea
but s2.878.5O was paid TO the Stat
Treasurer by the collector Ont OF tina
I amount s795 expenses had 10 be pai'
This money goes into the sinking iun
of the State. ~
; In the past ten or fifteen years th
. oyster business i'm Delaware has been o
( tbe decrease. as shown by the amount
money Maid into the State Treasurer ,
n the oyster collectors. just what q
. reason for this is, and the amount OF Oh
4 decrease. the State officials do not know
!. as they do not require the oyster cole
/, tor 10 make any report except ti
amount of money he collects. NO recoI
r. of the amount OF capital invested or U
estimate Of the annual output Is AeP