The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-05-26
0yslermen Make Reply

uY0lGl lllGll Moh5 li6plY
Hoopersville, Nd, May 20, 1913.
Editor of The Banner:
Please allow us space in your val
liable paper to reply to an interview
published in The Sun, under date of
May IL, of Mr.. Carl Veach, of Hoop
ersville, Md, in regard to oyster
planting, etc., in the surrounding
waters of Hooper's Island.
We are very sorry that the re-
porter of The Sun should have in
terviewed such man as .Veach
on this subject, owing to his entire
lack OF experience, but if we are
correctly informed, Mr.. Veach plac-
ed himself in very conspicuous po-
sition in order to be interviewed on
this very important matter. We, as
oystermen, consider Mr.Carl Veach
a very poor authority, as he has
not been resident of this county
for more than eight months. Prior
to his coming to Hooperville. he
was employed in shirt factory in
position OF shell-wheeler in an oys-
ter packing house, which constitutes
his entire experience in the oyster
business, and yet Mr.. Veach pre-
sumes, on this six or eight months
experience, to criticise the actions
of the Governor and Comptroller of
the State of Maryland, the high
officials of our oyster navy, and the
practical oystermen of our district
and the State at large.
In his article. Mr. Veach seemed
deeply copcerned. A glance at the
charts on file at the Shellfish Com
missions office will show that Mr..
Veach's fears are not groundless,
as he, himself, has applied for so
acres for himself and wife in one
of the best natural elumps Gas he
terms them) in our waters, being in
the same locality that Capt. Ulman
White applied for-and in an inter-
view with Capt. White today, he
proudly tells us that he has with
drawn his application, for, being a
practical FISHERMAN, and in sympa-
thy with the interests of the people,
his conscience condemns him, as he
considers it downright robbery of
the peoples rights, stating that he
has dredged from SO to Is bushels
of oysters per day from the very
bottom for which he had applied.
Mr.. yeaeh takes pains to criti-
else the people amongst whom he
lives, who were making a living
by catching oysters on the bottom
for which he has applied, when he
was among the hills of Virginia, har-
yesting oak bark for tannery,
cracking chestnuts, and freeing rae
coons in the back woods of the AL
leghany Mountains; and yet these
men, with years of experience, do
not presume to criticise the Legis-
laturs and the high officials of our
State. Truly, Solomon, with all his
wisdom. had nothing on Mr.. Veaeh
for being the Original Wise Guy.
We do not criticise the action of
the Legislature in passing the plant
ing law, as all fair-thinking people
acknowledge that cultivation of the
barren bottoms means prosperity.
However, we do not favor the en-
croachmeRt on our natural rocks
and bars. Therefore, we are not
IN harmony with the present sur
vey in our waters. We would have
the public know that we are law
abiding and God-fearing people. 1t
is to be regretted that Mr.. Veach
is not acquainted we'll enough with
the prominent people of this State
to know that portion of them
have risen from the ranks of "dis-
Baltimore, and last winter held the
giuntled oystermen," as he terms
them. Therefore, as body of oys-
termen, we are not ashamed to pro-
test against the hand of selfish
interests that we see in this, and
hold up for our God-given rights.
In his interview, Mr. Veach re-
fers to an individual, whom he
claims has done more to build up
the Island than the combined eff
forts of others, being boycotted. We
will admit with Mr.. Veach that this
one individual to whom he refers
has been a benefit to this commune
ty, but the people have been
far greater benefit to him, as a
view of his tax assessment and
bank account will show, since he
started in business at this place.
Yet, we do not condemn or envy his
prosperity, but are not in harmony
with his present attitude in regard
to leasing the natural oyster
grounds in these waters, and we
regret very much that part of this
d;sfavor was brought on by certain
acts of his employees.
n eesssusion, would say that.