Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-01-24
Governor Richie Appoints A
Commission To Investi-
gate Conditions
NO APPARENT CAUSE
FOR TAINT In OYSTERS

What many have characterized as
a fake alarm, has resulted in an al
most complete paralysis of the oyster
trade in Maryland, especially in Girls
field and Cambridge on the Eastern
Shore.
In the former eighty oyster houses
were closed; five thousand shuckers
and laborers thrown out of work; and
eight hundred boats tied to the docks
or anchored in mid-stream.
When it is considered that in Girls
field-one of the chief oyster markets
of the world-a pay roll of 100000
a week represents the business in the
bivalve, it can be well understood that
a stunning blow has been dealt the
Commercial department of the City
Of Shells.
And, too, the dependency of the
laboring class upon the oyster har-
vest, makes the stoppage a very seri-
Gus affair. Many Of the tongers and
shuckers are thrown out of work and
forced to face the winter without any
income.
The condition at Cambridge is very
similar. There the oyster is the main
i. support of thousands, and a cutting
off the industry is very serious mat
ter.
The cause of all the worry is the
report sent out that the Maryland oys-
ter is tainted with typhoid bacilli, and
has been the cause of the breaking
cut of this disease in Western cities.
Crisfeld attributes much of the
trouble to the reports given newspap-
ers by Arthur L. Sullivan, Commits
sioner of Food and Drugs.
Of course the people have not been
idle in their attempts to disprove re-
ported conditions. Psychologists have
been summoned and their analyses
have been all favorable. They have
pronounced the Maryland oyster free
from infection.
1t would seem rather peculiar that
the Crisfeld oyster, for instance,
should affect the Western people,
when in community of 10000 people
in the Crisfeld section have virtually
lived on them with no appearance of
the fever.
In Baltimore, also, the outside ban
on the oyster has not resulted in a
shortage of consumption. AS proof
of the good health of the bivalve,
dealers are using the customary guam
tity, and it is not to be supposed, they
would be fed to sick people.
Governor Richie has gotten busy
and through the activity of DR.. John
s. Fulton, director of the State De-
partment of Health, has issued GER
tificates attesting the purity of the
Maryland oyster, and these have been
sent to the health departments of all
the other states, and to all markets
for Marylan oysters.
While this action will improve and
has improved the condition somewhat,
yet the winter trade will not recover
it's usual status. Many think the bust
ness over for the season.
At Cambridge, affairs are somewhat
improved. Cancellation of orders are
being revoked, and many Western
states are telegraphing for shipments.
Ten packing houses are in operation,
putting up 1900 barrels daily.
The radio is being brought into use
to remedy affairs. Commissioner
Earle is broadcasting the result of his
findings all over the country in an eff
fort to stop the ban.
Governor Ritchie has appointed the
following commission to cooperate
with the Maryland authorities in re-
establishing the oyster industry.
w. MCGEE Adams, T. Preston Web
ster and w. H. killian, all of Balti-
more; J. J. Crouch, Rock Hall; Jerome
S. Jones, Chester, Queen Anne's coun-
ty; Alexander Haddaway, st. Mich
aels; A. Boyd Tignor, Nanticoke, Wi
comico county; o. S. Gallup, Oxford;
Robert S. Harrison, Sherwood, Talbot
county; Albanus Phillips and w. G.
Winterobttom of Cambridge; Ulman
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