Evening star., 1909-08-29
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to run boats. whose masters as a general
thing buy the oysters for cash and bring
them to the market here. where they are
sold to dealers or by the bushel to chance
customers.
The outlook for a good catch of oysters
the coming season is said to be excellent
There has been but little rain to freshen
the water. and the closed season, as d
general thing. has been observed, SO that
the oystermen are anticipating a larger
catch this season than last, which was
the best, as far as the catch is concerned
in fifteen or twenty years. Until the
nights become cold and crisp the receipts
of oysters here will be light, but after
the longing season opens in the middle
of October hundreds of bushels Will be
brought here and sold daily. The oyster
market at the foot of 18th street Will then
be busy place every hour in the day
weekdays, Sundays and holidays
Drouth Good for Them.
The opinion exists among boatmen that
the drouth Of this summer is one OF
the surest indications that the quality
and size of the stock will be better than
for the past few seasons. as it has been
noted during previous years that dry,
hot summers are conducive to the growth
Of oysters.
The Maryland state regulations regard
ing the catching Of oysters in the waters
of the state are as follows:
beginning September 1, longing is per-
mitted in the waters adjacent to the fol-
lowing counties: Kent. Queen Anne
Talbot, Somerset and Anne Arundel. In
Dorchester and Wicomico counties tong
ing is permitted from September 10. and
in Calvert and st. Mary tongers VII
start October l. In Somerset county
dredging Is permitted OCTOBER 10, Whiit
in other counties November I will be the
beginning of the dredging season. By
an agreement between the states of Mary
land and Virginia. dredging starts in the
Potomac river October 10. while nc
dredging is allowed by law in the Chesa
peake bay until November /"
The Virginia laws are practically the
same as those of Maryland as regards
the time for longing and dredging anc
the use of scrapers is not allowed al
any time. The finding of scrapers
aboard a boat is prima facie evidence OF
guilt and may result in the confiscatior
of the craft and it's outfit and a Jail sen.
tence for the master.
An Important Industry.
The oyster business on Chesapeake bay
and its tributaries is most important te
the people of Maryland and Virginia liv-
ing in the vicinity of the producing
grounds. The business of taking the
oysters bringing them to market and
selling them, gives employment to hun
dreds Of persons who in a good season
make excellent livings. For severa
years past the two states have beer
taking steps to prevent the extermina
ton Of the oysters, in consequence %
foolish and wasteful methods of dredg
ing. and the good results of Legislative
action putting a stop to these practices
and curtailing the season during which
oysters can be taken from their beds
can be seen in the increase in the catch
and in the improvement in the size and
quality of the oyster.
Gov. Crothers of Maryland has within
the past two weeks made a trip over the
oyster bearing portions of his state and
it is thought that his recommendations
TO the legislature of the state will be
for the further protection and improve
ment of the oyster.