The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-07
OYSTER FISHERMEN
 MAKE COMPLAINT
Baldwin County Waters May
 Soon Be Depleted
FISHERIES IN DANGER
porations Employ Baltimore Ex- perts in Dragging the Beds
 With Dredges

BayMinette. November 6.-(Speciall-A delegation of oyster fishermen from Boi Seeour were in town Saturday on tht case in which a number of fishermen art to be tried for trapping fish in the lagoof at the lower end of the county. A mum Der of the men who depend on oyster fishing for their living are registering a decided kick on the manner in which out side corporations are taking advantage of the dredge law in their waters, and on their reefs. and Saturday made their complaint 10 Representative S. C. Jen- kins from this place
 The fishermen allege that the present oyster laws, or lack of regulation on the part of the law. is going to put them out of business inside of year, and it is to protect their future that they are talk
 ing the matter up with the legislature. They state that the state law allows dredging for the oysters. which method makes it possible for large catches to be made. and declare that the present rate at which the oyster is being taken from the reefs will ruin the fisheries and force them out of business. The law also pro vides that as long as a price of 45 cents per bushel can be obtained within the boundaries of the state they must not ship any into the adjoining states.
 They state that there are about 300 men engaged in the oyster fishing business, and that there are thousands of barrels taken from Baldwin county waters each. year They further register a complaint against the Mississippi corporations which are employing Baltimore oyster experts to drag the dredges for them, and then carry off the big hauls. decreas- ing the beds of their stock with such rapidity that the oyster fishing here in this county is soon to be an industry of the past. Cases in Mississippi are cited to back their arguments, where the once excellent fishing grounds are now prac- ticaly cleaned up.
 The last of the Baldwin County Fair ex- hibit was loaded ur-a car Saturday and sent to Pensacola, where it will be shown during the coming week at the Interstate fair John Sehweitzer has been in Pen sacola several days preparing for the ar rival Of the fair exhibit and E. G. Miller left today. Following the Interstate fair the best of the exhibit will be sent to Chicago and the remainder returned here 10 be stored.
 A report received from the officer of the Farmers Gin company of this place shows that the cotton crop in this coun- ty is considerably earlier than that of last year To the first of November last year a few less than DO bales had been ginned. and up to the same time this year over 250 had gone through the gin The officers state. however. that the crop will not be as much larger than the crop of last year as was thought at the first of the season. as they are nearer through with the ginning than they were at this time last year. Not much cot ton remains 10 be picked, and another month will see the entire crop in this vicinity ginned. The gin company pre- diets that the yield for this locality will be close 10 325 bales this season.
 4 comparative report of the sickness in Baldwin county between October of 1908 and October this year from the county health officer shows that conditions are much better now than they were year ago Considerable malaria was evident last year. and many more people were 1T with petty complaints The improved health condition is due greatly to the clearing up of the land and the better ment of conditions throughout the county from a sanitary standpoint.