Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-09-13
CRAB PARLEY
Held IN VA.
OPEN WATERS
Maryland And Virginia Officials
Meet To Discuss Sea Food
Conservation.
GOVERNOR TRINKLE
SUFFERS BROKEN ARM

Owing to a scarcity Of crabs in the
waters of the Chesapeake, confer
ence was held last Tuesday in the
waters off Colonial Beach, Va, be-
tween Maryland and Virginia authori-
ties.
Gov. Z. Lee Trinkle, of Virginia,
w. Mcdonald Lee, Virginia Commits
sioner o. Fisheries, were scheduled to
meet Goernor Richie, and Swepson
Earle, State Conservation Commits
sioner; and Lewis Radcliffe, United
States Commissioner of Fisheries,
was to act as counsellor to both
states.
Governor Trinkle was prevented
from being present at the conference
by an accident which befell him on
the Virginia steamer Commodore
Maury. The pitching of the steamer
threw the Virginia executive from his
chair to the deck, and he sustained a
double fracture of his left arm. He
was landed and taken to hospital in
i Fredericksburg, Mr.. Lee accomanying
him. -,
This reduced the conference party to
three members who discussed the
question of conservation of sea food,
including shad, which have materially
diminished in quantity. A later parley
will likely take place.
The reason for the meeting between
Maryland and Virginia was to seek
some remedy for the depletion of
young crabs in the Hampton Roads
section by winter dredging.
The Maryland law prohibits the TAX
ing of any crabs from November to
May 1, but Mr.. Earle says that nearly
all the female crabs go from Mary
land waters to the lower bay, where
the water is warmer, during the win
ter months, and it is there the young
crabs are hatched.
Virginia has no law preventing the
destruction of these female crabs, and
fishermen dredge them out Of the
mud, knock off the sponge" or mass
Of eggs adhering to the apron of the
mother, and put the crabs on the
market. Notwithstanding that the
quality of the food is poor. Growing
scarcity of the crustaceans has result
ed in higher prices, and the endless
chain thus formed has so depleted the
stock that Mr.. Earle reported scarcely
any little crabs were observed this
year coming up the bay to Maryland
waters.
What Maryland wants is for Vir-
ginia to pass law prohibiting dredg-
ing for crabs in the winter. 1t is re-
graded as possible that Virginia may
want to "trade" by asking for some
concessions from Maryland in return
but what these may be, if any, has
not been disclosed.
Mr.. Radcliffe said the United States
Bureau of Fisheries is thoroughly
alive to the situation in Chesapeake
Bay and will give all assistance in its
power. However, he said Compression.
al action would not be invoked unless
Maryland and Virginia fail to pass
Concurrent legislation.
s In addition to protection of crabs
attention was given to the diminish
ing supply of shad. A proposition
rut forth by Mr.. Radcliffe provides
that fishermen in the lower bay shal
raise their nets for certain periot
every week if Maryland will give pro
{ lection to the spawning fish in tn
upper bay. The suggestion seems t.
meet the approval of Governor Ritchi
and Mr.. Earle.
1t is to be hoped that the tw
states can come to some agreemen
which will benefit each. The crab in
dustry has for years been the chic
means Of support for thousands Q
Maryland fishermen, and they hav
felt keenly the falling off in the sur
ply. Prices have risen to almost Pre-
hibitive scales and the revenue hs
lessened till the situation has becom
serious.
Mr.. Earle on his return from tri
to Canada win attempt to get in toue
with the Virginia officials for anoths
discussion of the matter.