The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-01-24
COL. PHILLIPS WRITES
ABOUT OYSTER INDUSTRY
Well known Cambridge Packer Sug-
gests Construction Plan For Re-
habitation Of Maryland'S Oyster
Business.

The oyster industry OF Maryland
is conducted under many varied con
ditions. This is because the area
covered by oysters is so very extern
sive. Oysters are found in the cas-
tern section of the Chesapeake Bay
and it's tributaries from rochester
Beach to the Virginia line, ana on
the western section from near POOLE
Island to the Potomac river, as Wen
as in tributaries on the northern
side of the Potomac Methods SUIT
ed TO the handling of oysters IN 'he
lower part of the bay to increase 'he
supply and improve the quallty OF
the stock would perhaps be lmprac-
ticable in the upper part OF Mary
lands oyster area.
do not believe there is a busl-
ness man or FISHERMAN OF vision IN
the State who questions the Tact
that planting and cultivating OF oys-
ters is essential in order to get
quantity as we'll as quality. Since
it seems impossible for an ndlVluual
to plant and cultivate oysters II APP
pears that the only solution Is lol
the Conservation Commission 10
take up that part in behalf OF tue H.
dustrv. The writer recalls that the
state a few years ago planted DOW
near Governors run some oysters
from the upper bay. The first plant
ing was very successful. The last
planting, l understand. was unsuc,
cessful; but the failure or the last
planting should have no influence on
g; r,iIor nm III ort kings
Should Get Out OF Rut
In the writer's opinion, the soon,
or the Conservation Commission ana
others who are directing the destl-
mics of the business get out OF the
old, beaten paths the better Il Will
be for the industry The Maryland
oyster industry is a great one anu
could, l think he made highly pro-
fitable. Yet when we look BACK
over a period of, say, 80 years 1t IS
apparent that there is something
radically wrong with the methods
employed in the State Certainly
Maryland has oyster bottoms anu
the best, which is properly handled'
could be made to produce many
times the quantity of oysters now
nuaIitv than are found at present.
There are vast areas in Marylaha-
thousands of acres-Where the oyS-
ters are growing so thickly that they
have become impoverished. They are
so unshapely and poor that 1t taxes
in some instances three bushels 10
yield when they are opened, GAL
lon. The quality is so poor they ar"
hardly fit for food.
Take the area of oysters from be-
low Sandy Point to the Three Sisters.
including Hacketts, Tolleys, Thomas
Point. and West river on the west
side of the bay and Chester river
Eastern Bay, Broad Creek and the
Little Choptank and some othel
places on the east side OF the pay
The oysters seem to get poorer every
wear. Even though millions die
they grow more plentiful. Yet the
Quality is so poor that it is dlfhcul'
even at 90 and 25 cents bushel.
ON the other hand, we have vast
oyster beds, many thousands OF
acres, Oh the Chesapeake Bay, the
very best bottoms known. beds that
have made Chesapeake Bay oysters
famous for quality over the entire
country. Many of these beds are
barren or so depleted that dredge
boats find it improbable to work
them, even though the oysters are
the best and command theEsry
highest prices.
Old Methods Suicidal
Now I believe it would not be diff,
ficulty for any man of experience III
the oyster business to realize tha'
these conditions should not exist,
and that to continue in the old, beat
en- paths is but inviting death to the
industry. l believe the oyster in
dustry is great enough and has pos
sibilities enough to justify the e&'
penditure of any reasonable amount
of money. if that money is to De
properly used. In the way of sug'
gestion, if l owned the oyster bot
toms of the Chesapeake and its trlou'
taries, l would make Immediate
preparations with the opening OF
spring to take the oysters from the
vast areas where they are lmpoVer'
ished because they grow so thickly
and plant them on the depleted bot
toms of the best oyster beds in the
Chesapeake Bay. 1 would keep VI
this work throughout the month OF
May and continue every spring and
if necessary every fall during the
month of September. In addition
would buy and plant at least 5OO,0OO
bushels of oyster shells every year
for the purpose of using the eaten
of small oysters on the shells in the
depleted beds.
Would Enhance Value
The thinning out of oysters from
the too thickly growing beds Woulo
result in greatly enhancing the value
of the remaining oysters from the
improvement in quality. 1t would
enhance the value several hundred
per cent. of the oysters planted on
the depleted bottoms. This hand,
ling of the situation is simple and
practical. 1t would be sure to be
profitable and would insure the con
tinuance and growth of our great
oyster industry. This work can be
done by the Conservation Commits.
sion if it has the proper cooperation
and laws LO pGIIllL IL W dCI. 40 ~
the amount of money needed, the
Conservation Commission is natural
ly a very expensive organization OF
account of the extensive area of oys
tiers it is obliged to cover. The sun
of 100000 a year is quite large
! but the commission must have SUI
| ficient money or ii, cannot operate
What it should have in addition t.
| money, in the writer's opinion,
sufficient authority in the way o
laws to operate more actively II
planting oysters and shells along tn
| lines l have suggested. Certain.
the people directly interested in tn
oyster industry, as well as all otne
! citizens of the State, should give al
| assistance possible and help brlni
about a change in the present de
F., plorable conditions, betterment o
which is certainly possible.
! Gould ExfenI ScOnP OF Work