Smyrna times., 1911-12-20
CRISFIELD ASKS CONGRESS /
FOR BETTER NAVIGATION
WANTS WATERS OF SMITHS
ISLAND OPENED TO SHIPS
Men in Fish and Oyster Industries In
terested in a Movement to Get
Water Course Opened

Water Course Opened
What has been said relative to
the asking of Congress for an appro-
priation for making navigable the
waters surrounding Smiths Island,
near Crisfeld, Md, was received
with many favorable comments by
individuals and firms engaged in the
crab, fish and oyster industries in
the cities. 1t is the general opin-
ion that these improvements would
not only be of great advantage TO
Smiths Island, but would largely
increase the commerce of Crisfeld,
especially during the summer
months, when the soft crab industry
ia in full swing. A large portion
of the crabs marketed in Philadel-
phia are caught between Crisfeld
and Smiths Island and around the
island generally. Often the catch
ers, because of the low tide, are
compelled to lose days work or
their days catch because their boat
draws more water where the crabs
are caught than the shadows fur
nish. On the island itself, a number
of firms are engaged every season in
the crab business and at times when
their gasoline boats are heavily
loaded with boxes and barrels of
crabs they are several hours late in
reaching Crisield, which is the only
shipping point they can hope to
reach with any certain regularity.
These people will be greatly pleased
when the project is begun. 1t
means many dollars to them every
year, to say nothing of the increase
in the number of people and vessels
that will be engaged in the industry
year after year. The report has
been current in Crisfeld this week
that the government engineers who
were there during the past summer
and went over the Broad Creek
proposition thoroughly will recon-
mend to Congress that the appropri-
alton for this work be made and
carried forward to conclusion with
out delay. This much-needed i'm
provement will provide adequate
water facilities between a large
number of Eastern Shore of Virginia
points in Crisfeld. 1t will not only
develop the commerce of CrisfeId.
but will furnish an outlet for the
produce of number of towns that
at present have no outlet by boat or
ran. = This is considered one of the
big things that will make Crisfeld
the largest center in Maryland for
sea food. While it holds that posi-
tion now regarding soft she'll crabs,
the vast oyster and clam interests
that would naturally turn to this
point at the present time go else
where and are so divided Ep that no
one point gets the real benefit that
is to be derived from this commerce.
AS in the case of Smiths Island, the
shoal water in this creek, which
connects the little Annamessex River
with PocOmoke Sound, is the cause
of much hardship to the boatmen
who even now are compelled to use
it. At times these men and their
craft lay for hours in this creek.
high and dry because it is so tor
tuous and there is no marked chan
mel through it. Practically half of
the boats from Crisfield engaged in
catching crabs use the waters of
Pocolnoke Sound, and unless they
go through Broad Creek, are com
PEELED to make long detour, caus.
ing them often to lose the best part
of the grabbing day. If the projects
mentioned are carried forward Girls.
field will be one of the principal
potts on the Chesapeake Bay. Its
direct mail connections with thu
Northern cities make it a good ship
ping point and the growth of tn,
sea food industry which has ALREADY
assumed huge proportions, will il
the next few years be phenomenal