Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-04-02
OYSTER GROUNDS LEASED.
NOTABLE DAY IN HISTORY OF
OYSTER CULTURE.
Actual Period For Leasing Barren Bot
toms Begins Today SheIlfish COM
mission Busy Executing Papers
Many Leases Granted.
SOME INTERESTING HISTORY
OF THE WORK.

Today was notable in the history
of oyster culture in Maryland from
the fact that the period for leasing
the bottoms declared TO be barren by
the officials appointed under the Oys-
ter Culture Act OF 1907 began. The
Shellfish Commission and its working
force, in conjunction with the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
during the summer past, surveyed the
bottoms under the waters contiguous
TO Anne Arundel comfy and fixed the
boundaries OF the natural oyster
grounds.
All other bottoms adjacent to the
county are now the subject of leas-
ing and actual leases will be execut-
ed from today on. While it has been
found impossible to accomplish
everything that was implied should
be done under the law, the Commits
sion is in good shape, considering all
the difficulties of the work, TO begin
the leasing aud will proceed under
the imperative direction of Section
30. This section directs that one year
after the approval of the Act, the work
of leasing the bottoms adjacent to
such portions as have been surveyed
shall begin. The official figures show
turnl oyster ground under the waters
styled Anne Arundel county waters.
This immense area is about four
times greater than all the natural beds
in til waters of Connecticut, generally
classed as one of the larger oyster
states. It is believed that the amount
of bottom which is reasonably well
adapted to oyster culture approximatcs
in size the area of natural bed. Under
the law the owners Of property border
ing on the water will 5e the only ones
who may take up leases for the next
four months. At the expiration Of
that time those engaged in the oyster
business i'm some branch within the
state of Maryland will be allowed
the privilege of taking up bottom for
oyster cultivation for the period of
six months. After that timo leases
may be made to any citizen of Mary
land. There are stringent provisions
designed TO prevent the bottoms get
ting into the possession of non-resi-
dents or of corporations.
All persons may, within the peri od
allotted TO them, take up ten acres of
what is styled county waters and
one hundred acres of 'other waters. y
and adopted by the Commission,
The Commission has already executed
leases TO about $50 persons who were
holders of one or more acres under
the old oyster planting law and who
desire to retain them as provided by
the more recently passed oyster cul-
ture act. IL is believed that a much
larger number of such persons have
-
bottoms, as they are riparian owners
and will take up the bottom leased
to them under the old law by avail
ing themselves of their first privilege
to do SO as riparian owners, thus
saving rent for year or more.
A set of blanks for the use Of the
Office and covering the procedure Of
the different kinds of leases has been
prepared at the Office of the Shellfsh
Commission. These have been the
special work of President Walter
Mitchell, who is an attorney, and ii.
Courtney Jenifer, chief clerk of the
Commission, who is a law student.
There are four forms of leases and also
appropriate forms of application for
lease. Form A is for the use of lot
holders under the old law who desire
10 ItIdln lUtlI lOlh lllC INV
law. Form B is for leases executed
to riparian owners. Form G is for
leases executed to those who claim
the privilege as being engaged in the
oyster business, and Form ID is for
leases to citizens of Maryland in gen
real. A full set of record books have
also been prepared and are now in
the Office at the State House.
The bulk of those engaged in oyster
ing in Anne Arundel county have an
nounced themselves as hostile to the
provisions of the new Act and some
acts of vandalism have been generally
ascribed TO them, though it is not
believed that there is any widespread
sentiment in favor of resort to il
legal methods of opposing the effec-
tiveness of the law. A union was
formed in Annapolis, with other
unions throughout the county, and
has assumed the name of the Oyster
mems Protective Association. a
number OF violent speeches have been
made and a great deal Of criticism
heaped upon the members of the Com
mission and those connected with it.
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