Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-28
PAID BOARD NOT NEEDED
Would Do Away With Shellfish
Commission-Board Of Marine
Fisheries.
REPORT TO GOVERNOR.
President Mitchell Of the Shellfish
Commission Expresses Different
Views.

"a n0AuDNA VI lhpOENdll AGNNlAlAilCh-
dations are made in the report of
the Oyster Commission, appointed by
Governor Crothers to investigate
the conditions obtaining in the oys-
ter and shellfish industries of the
State The report will be transmit
ted by the Governor to the Legisla-
ture and ii is understood that the
recommendations have his indorse-
ment.
One of the most important of these
provides for the legislating out of
Office of the present Shellfish Commits
sion, which is paid board the chair
man drawing $4,000 a year and the
others 81, 800, and consolidating the
work of the board with the work of
the State fishery force. 1t is sug-
gested that an unpaid board of five
members be appointed. TO be known as
the Board of Marine Fisheries. to have
charge of the bottoms of the Chesa-
peake Bay and its tributaries and the
oyster police force.
The Board of Marine Fisheries, it is
suggested, could do the work better
than it is now being done. The report
recommends that such a board 'be
clothed with discretionary powers,
enabling il to apply the result of
thought and experience to the admins
tration of all matters pertaining to
tn, upbuilding of the industry upon
strictly business principles 1t should
be enabled to manage the work in
trusted to it strictly as a business
inf e.
ence. 1t should have under its super
vision and control the oyster navy
and all other departments having to do
with bottoms of State waters and the
marine fisheries, whether on public
grounds or leased grounds of the
State. 1t should have within its pow
ers the appointment and dismissal of
all employees of all departments of the
| bureau so that merit and discipline
could be observed and enforced.
The commission has found little COM
plant of license fees under the pres
ent laws on vessels, tongers, packing
houses and the like. AS the bushel
tax was declared unconstitutional, it
is recommended that tax of ! cent
bushel be imposed on all oysters
tken from public and private grounds
of the State, one-half to be paid by
the buyer. The idea is that such a
plan of revenue would not only main
tain the Board of Marine Fisheries
and all departments connected with
it, but would leave a comfortable
! surplus.
The present system of inspection is
considered inadequate, and the COM
mission thinks the inspection ought
to be made where the oysters are
caught. 1t recommends the abolition
of the special inspectors employed al
Baltimore and other places in the tide.
water counties, because the results
have never been satisfactory. In their
place it would have a system of care.
full inspection at the beds by oyster
navy employees in fast motorboats, and
believe that a very limited number of
general inspectors ashore would serve
every purpose with greater economy.
The commission believes that the
rentals now charged for oyster plant
ing grounds should be reduced, that
many of the restrictions should be re-
moved and that private planters be
enabled to take up and market their
oysters at any time, thus permitting
them to compete with other nearby
states which are doing the same
thing.
Senator Jesse d. Price, of Wicom-
leo county, is chairman of the Oyster
Commission. Former Senator Thomas
H. Robinson, of Hartford; Mr.. Charles
B. Lloyd, of Talbot; L. c. Quinn of
Somerset; DR.. Charles Hayden, of
st. Mary's; Mr.. j. P. Roe, Of Queen
Anne's, and Commander T. c. B. How
ard, of the State fishery force, are
members.