Evening journal., 1908-09-09
OYSTERMEN RAID
FORBIDDEN BEDS
Fleet Of 200 Craft Invade
Prohibited Waters as
Sheriff Looks On

SNOW HILL. Md. Sept. 9.-Openly
defying the law in the face OF the
sheriff of Worcester county and his
deputies, oystermen with a fleet Of 200
vessels sailed into sinepuxent bay
yesterday. possessed themselves Of it's
waters and began illegal oystering
The bay Is dotted with the sails of the
craft as far as the eye can reach, and
although the sheriff and his men have
no difficulty in Identifying the Offend
ers, the latter make no attempt to es-
cape detection.
For the first time in thirty years the
rocks in the bay are covered with
young oysters, ranging IN size from a
silver dollar down 10 "a 25-cent piece
and even smaller. These are valuable
as plants, being worth about 30 cents
a bushel. but, under a law applying to
Worcester county the taking of oys-
ters Of that size from the natural rocks
is prohibited. If left on the rocks for
a year or two they would be worth
many thousands Of dollars. But the
temptation to secure an Immediate
profit though smaller, is more than the
oystermen can stand
Worth S25 to $40 Per Day
IL was rumored some time ago that
the oystermen contemplated taking
these oysters as soon as the season
opened, and. anticipating difficulty,
States Attorney Johnson published the
substance of the law and warned all
persons that violators would be pros
ecuted.
Saturday it was said that large
quantities were being openly taken
and were being sold and planted on
private grounds. an oysterman of aver
age industry being able to make from
S25 to $40 a day I'm this way. A dep
uty sheriff was sent TO the bay to get
evidence and names of violators Yes
terday he was reinforced by the sher-
iff and several other deputies. who re-
mained all day.
The young oysters are very thick
and several layers deep, and IL that
word may be used in describing their
regular manner Of attaching them
selves to the rocks The like has never
been seen here before.
Oystermen Plea
There Is a division among the oys-
termen as to the right in the matter
Those who are engaged i'm the taking
and their sympathizers, who are
many claim that It is to the benefit
OF the public that the oysters should
he taken now. They assert with en-
tire sincerity that the oysters under
meath are already turning black and
dying and that those nearer the top
have stopped growing and soon will be
affected by the death of those under
meath and. unless they are thinned and
transplanted without delay. they will
be absolutely worthless TO anyone and
that it is better TO get the good Of
them now and help stock the private
beds. leaving enough on the natural
rocks for a healthy growth than to let
them stay where they are and be
worth nothing.
II also is claimed that. If the Mary
land oystermen do not take the oys-
ters the beds would be depleted at
night by Virginia oystermen and even
( by some of the residents OF the county
who have moro regard for the profit to
the law protecting IT,
be derived from the oyster than for
/ the law protecting IT,
Tho na's es of the men are being
taken. and each day a record viii he
} kept of the offenders so that they ma,
be presented to the grand jury.