Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-03-04
HAVE DETERMINED POINT.
SETTLEMENT BY SHELLFISH
COMMISSION.
The OYSTER Commission Understood 10
Have Acted Ii Regard TO The
New Gull And Seed
Section.

4 statement. which though not OIL
cial is absolutely rcliable rs IL The
proposed action OF the Shelliish Com
mission on Section III OF the oyster
Cultivation Act. authorizing them 10
designate certain beds from which
oysters can be taken for planting pur-
poses between April - and May 10.
has been made and is calculated To
set az rest any reasonable apprehension
OF the oystermen that those who catch
oysters from the natural beds Will be
done an injury for the benefit Of those
who may engage in planting.
The local oystermen are much
stirred up on this point and have
formed a union in order TO prevent
the taking OF oysters in that period.
Section IL provides that tongcrs
may takcaoy sters under snch regula-
tions as the Commission may from
time 10 time prescribe, between the
dates mentioned for purposes of plant
ing on leased beds or of selling for
such purposes. II viii thus be seen
that the powers of the Commission in
the matter are very broad, but it is
certain that they viii not be exercised
so as 10 iniure the men who catch
oysters from the natural beds.
Hon. Thomas III. Robinson, coun-
sci to the board. has given his opinion
that the Gull Law must be enforced il
oysters are taken from the beds desig-
mated within the waters OF any conn
~. The adherence of the board TO this
course, as il will do, sets at rest the
main source Of disquietude among the
local oystermen. The oystermen fear
ed that the planters or those in their
employ would be given unlimited
right TO go TO the natural beds with
drcdges or any other implement for
catching oysters and practically scour
the natural beds f)r the purpose of
oBriching the leased bottoms. IF.
however, oysters must be Gull d, this
could not be done, particularly as
tho law says implicitly that they
can be taken only by tongers.
The history of the provision of Sec
tion III is well known. II was bor-
rowed largely from the Virginia law,
where it was placed from the fact
that the Q are oyster beds in the Up
per Potomac river and away from the
mouth of other rivers, where, by
reason of the freshness OF the waters,
the oysters nev0r reach marketable
size. These were allowed 10 be taken
for planting purposes because they
would reach marketable size in saltier
waters. whereas they were otherwise
useless TO individuals or the world.
The provision was inserted in the
Maryland law because il was thought
that beds of the same character existed
in Maryland, particularly in the upper
part of the bay.
1t is believed that the board will
designate some beds of this character,
where, OF course. no injury would be
done tC oystermen, as the oysters are
not of the size which are legal to be
caught and consequently OF no use to
them. The designated beds in other
sections are likely Il, be the small
beds known as 'lumpN'' and TO which
oystermen seldom resort. In these
the Gull law can be enforced. The
law really only allows twenty extra
days for such work, as the regular
longing season lasts To April %.
Those who are most interested IN the
fnrtherance Of oyster culture in the
State and have the most information
on the subject do not regard the sec
tion as at all Of a vital nature nor did
they give it the importance that some
Of the oystermen feel is attached to
it. Indeed the oyster culturists do not
believe in giving prominence To the
bedding features of the law as opposed
to what may be called real oyster cul-
ture. Comprehended in the latter term
is the preparation Of bars by the plac
ing of shells or other material on soft
bottoms in such a manner as it may
catch the oyster spawn and thus pro-
duce oysters.
Oyster culture by this method in
creases the whole production Of oysters
and enriches the industry, while the
bedding of oysters amounts TO little
more than the carrying Of them from
one place TO another and is not oyster
culture in any real sense. The encour
agement Of tlle taking by wholesale of
oysters from natural beds to be placed
on barren bottoms would be as much
opposed to the ideas Of the oyster cul-
turist as il is to those men who take
the oysters from the natural bed and
it will not be allowed by the Com
mission.
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