Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-12
.READYFOR DREDGING
Fleet of Oyster Boats to Start
Next Monday.
POTOMAC TO BE LIVELY
Law Allows Catching of Bivalves in
That Manner After
October Is.

Since the list of September the oysters
that have been brought to this city from
the Potomac beds have been taken from
their abiding place in the bottom of the
river by oystermen operating tongs. but
after this week 1t will be allowable to
use dredges in the Potomac, and affect
of several hundred boats is at Balti-
more and other points fitting out for the
service. The dredging season opens on
the Potomac at daybreak October 15
but as October 10 falls on Sunday and
the taking Of oysters from the beds is
not allowed either in Maryland or Vir-
ginia waters on Sunday, the dredging
season will not open until Monday. Octo-
Der Is. at daybreak. In all the harbors
down the river and along Chesapeake bay
fiatties, PUNCHES, schooners. bugeyes,
canoes and other classes of boats are be-
ing fitted out for the oyster dredging
work, and the marine picture that will
be presented on the Potomac oyster beds
Monday next, when the hundreds of
vessels are moving about over the beds,
will be an interesting one.
Fifty or more boats are reported lying
on the Canton flats at Baltimore prepar-
ing for the opening of the dredging sea-
son. They have gone to Baltimore to
ship crews and to fit out generally and
the latter part Oh tHlS week tHcy VIII
hoist sail for the harbors in the lower
river to await the coming of Monday.
Many Of the small craft have been
freshly painted. and provisions and the
necessary crews to man the dredge
winches are all that are needed. A
number of the vessels have been fitted
out this season with gasoline engines to
operate the dredges, and this will greatly
lessen the amount of labor and expense
Of operation.
I'd.
Season Opens in Potomac First.
dredge boats comes to the Potomac at
this time is because the dredging season
on the Chesapeake bay beds does not be-
gin until November 1, and as soon as it
does open large number of the boats
that have been working in the Potomac
will shift the scene OF their labors to
Chesapeake bay points.
According to competent authority, the
season promises to exceed that OF the
past few years. as reports from all sec
tons Of the bay are to the enect that
there is a prolific supply of good stock
awaiting dredgers. The quality and size
of the oysters, it is stated, are superior
to those Of last season at this time OF
the year.
1t is openly asserted that numbers OF
dredge boats have been working In the
| Potomac for two weeks or longer, In de-
fiance Of the law, and that the oyster
police authorities Of Maryland and Viz
ginia have made no effort to stop them
| = he oyster packers and commission men
of Baltimore are up in arms over this re-
port, as II Is asserted that the depreda-
lions aare confined mostly to Maryland
| waters.
| Thousands of bushels Of bivalves, It Is
stated have been taken from the beds
daily by a fleet numbering nearly hum
dred vessels, which are operating In open
defiance of the law and carrying their
cargoes to packing houses on the eastern
shore. No effort. 1t is commended has been
made TO arrest any of the violators, who
| are working away on the beds. 81
Says He Saw Dredgers.
Capt. James Winstead Of Coan river
who was at this city recently with a car
go of canned goods. 1t is said, on a re-
cent visit to Baltimore stated that on hi,
way up the river he counted from IS t.
100 dredge and serape boats operating OF
the MARYLAND side of the river from, g.