Evening journal., 1913-05-17
BLOODSHED
IN OYSTER
WAR FEARED
ROCkmen Fighting Against
Chesapeake Bay Planters
Pull Up Stakes
OPPOSITION TO
THE CULTURISTS

CRIsFIELD. Md, May 17.-Reports
from Smiths Island. this county,
which reached Crisheld today, indicate
that serious clash between natural
rock oystermen Of that place and
planters along the western side Of
Tangier Sound viii end in serious
trouble II not bloodshed. The oyster
men are dctermiped TO fight against
the oyster culture. which has been
started in that section. and are or
Ranizing to fight, through legislation,
or otherwise Already stakes and
buoys have been pulled up in Tangier
Sound.
Oyster planting has received more
opposition In Somerset County than
probably any other part of the State,
and for many years IL was impossible
to elect a member of the Legislature
from this county known to favor oys-
ter culture. The opposition finally was
overcome 10 some extent after the
passage of the Haman oyster law, al
though the sentiment among the natu-
raj rock oystermen has continued in
opposition to any form Of oyster
planting.
Following recent surveys made by
the Maryland commission in this
county, fresh opposition TO planting
broke out among the oystermen Of the
county and they began to organize for
the purnose of killing the cultivation
OF the Maryland bivalve.
The oystermen of Smiths Island
made their first move last Tuesday
night when q meeting was held on the
island and an organization known as
the oyster Protective Association
was formed. Captain Caleb l.. Evans
was chairman and Wallace Evans sec
retary. The association decided 10
fight all forms OF oyster culture, and
another meeting was held last night
TO further the plans Of the organiza-
ton.
At this meeting t. was reported
planters had staked of considerable
amount Of good natural rock, and were
preparing to convert It into private
planting grounds At once the meet
ing decided TO defy the law and the
planters by pulling up the stakes, de
stroying the buoys and other marks o
survey and to fight the taking of thi
bottom by private parties Severa
fiery speeches were made and the fol
lowing resolutions were unanimousl
adopted
I'VE, the citizens OF Smiths Island
are emphatically opposed to the tax
ING up OF natural oyster rocks an
oyster bottoms, where natural roc
A.
many yeaos. Nearly all of the Yves
Side Of Tangior Sound is in Smith
Island district. and in this area {
water lie many Of the best naturs
oyster rocks of the whole soun,
Some OF he best rocl in Tangie
Sound have been stakci of by tn
private parties for private oyste
planting. and known IL TO be natur
al bottom and. therefore. the propret
of the oystermen. we refuse to allo'
Il to be taken for private use. W
shall Immediately pull up the stake
and huoys which sake this groun
on and will fight for the possessio
OF this oyster bottom We are ur
equivocally opposed to the Hama
oyster plating law anG refuse [
HNAQ' h1 NA' A'AAoANl VI lhAo VI an
other law which infringes on ou
rights and deprives us of an honel
way TO male living
After the meeting last night n
natural rock oystermen started
early this morning I, put their threi
into execution, and have been pullir
up stakes and buoys in the westei
a part Of Tangler Sound all day.
- Captain Edward p. Tyler, a form'
commando of the police schoon,
Helen Baughman, who lives {
Smiths Island, came to Crisheld tn
morning sad reported conditions
very bad. Tyler said that the stalk
and buoys were being pulled up; IN
oystermen were getting out the
rifles and preparing to "camp" off d
bottoms. where they we're destroyil
the stakes, in order to prohibit d
restaking of this ground by 4
painters.
A meeting was held last nigl
which every resident of Smiths