The aegis & intelligencer., 1907-09-13
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.

The Deer Greek Farmers Club met at the
residence of John il. Worthington on Satur-
day evening. When the roll was called at
O'Clock the following members answered to
their names: John Moorcs, president, John
H. Hanna, Henry b. Bruins William w.
Finney, stevenson A. Williams, Jacob S.
Baer, William b. II Hopkins. Th omas H. Robin
son, w Beatty Harlan. John S. Slade. ]. L.
Nee ormick, William Silver, Frank II. Jacobs,
c. c. STREET., J. B. Wysong and John d.
Worthington; and the following invited
guests were present: F. E. Gorrell, w. E.
Robinson, w. w. Preston, William II. Harlan,
W. S. Forwood, p. II. Mccormick, w. L.
Amos, S. y. Hobltzell. of the Baltimore
American ------, of the Baltimore Sun,
and DR.. Caswell Grave and Mr.. Swepson
Earle. of the Shelf Fish Commission.
The meeting had been arranged for on
short notice and number of invited guests
were absent because Ofprevious engagements.
Governor Warfield, in rendering his regrets.
said: unfortunately have an engagement to
attend a large farmers picnic at Nj cunt Airy,
near my home in Howard county, on that
evening. | know that would enjoy meeting
| the good farmers of afford and regret very
| much that 1 cannot have that pleasure"
| Similar letters were read from Judge Croth-
ers Senator ]. Charles Liuthicum. Walter
| Abell editor of The SUM- Mr.. T. ]. c. Williams,
| of the editorial staff of The Sun, Isaac Lobe
| Straus and b. X. Green and Walter J: Nit
| chcll membe of the Shell Fish Commission.
During the early portion of the evening the
| club discussed the prospect for corn and a
| tomato crop in Hartford this season.
While instances of exceptionally fine crops
were given, the general consensus of opinion
was that all depended on the September
| weather and that unless frost is late this
| season these crops will be cut not less than
| twenty per cent.
After dinner DR.. Grave was called on to
| give an account of the progress made in oys-
,1rIGn he II
prospects for the future.
| In a clear and convincing manner the Doc
tor showed how the salvation OF the oyster
| rested on cultivation. How in the three sue
cessive surveys and examinations made i'll
| 1881 1892 and 1907 the supply had gone
| steadily down. with every prospect of perma-
| nent deDletion unless relieved of existing
drafts on the beds. This statement applied
with especial force to Pocomoke sound. which
has been one of the riches fields heretofore.
The beds of Anne Arundel county have been
| completely laid off, though the county has
! so miles of coast, and for the most part the
| survey has been accepted without appeal.
In the Doctors Judgment when 1t is possi-
| BILE to do away with assigning certain
| natural beds where seed oysters can be taken
| moved. This the Doctor thinks should be IN
! about two years, after which planters Will
/ find it much more profitable to raise their
| own seed, since they far exceed in value the
seed taken from natural beds. The Attorney
| Generals decision that the Gull law applies
| in taking seed was considered very untortu-
1 (.
some to dictate to planter how he may
harvest his own oysters. He thinks that the
| maximum amount to any one holder could
| also be wisely increased.
| At present prospective planters are hest
| tating about leasing because they fear hostile
| legislation next winter. If this fear Is re-
| moved and the changes in the law indicated
| above are made, the Doctor believes the
planting will go on rapidly.
| While regrctting that the legislation had
| not defined what natural bed Is, Dr.
| Grave showed that the Commission had
| finally adopted Judge GoldsborOuEh's now
| famous definition that il is place where
| oystcrmeu may regularly resort for a Hveli-
| hood; and hithcr went on to show how they
| practically demonstrated whether or not an
| oysterman could make livelihood on a
| given bed.
Mr.. Earle gave an interesting account of
the manner in which the survey is made,
| illustrating the work done by Il series OF maps
| and charts. The Commission has the con-
! Stant aid of two experts from the general
| government. whose assistance has proved IN
| valuable. The party lives on house boat
| where common mess is provided, and does
| not go to shore for days at a time. Besides
| facilitating the work this is cooler in summer
| and relieves the members from the danger
| of malaria and mosquitoes which infect the
| coast.
Mr.. Thomas H. Robinson, counsel to the
| Commission made plain the existing defects
in the law and what amendments are
| necessary to remedy them
| The club ad iourncd to meet in October at
| the residence of Mr.. Frank IL. Jacobs.