Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-06-13

In this particular case, as in that of
the terrapin, we have a definite eX
ample of just what will happen to
Eastern Shore seafoods in general if
the present wasteful methods of mar
ketng are not prevented. The quail
ty of this fish brought such prices in
northern markets that the supply was
soon almost exhausted by the I'M
scrupulous methods employed in its
catching. Today this valuable fish IS
nearly extinct and when a catch is
made in the Bay pounds an immediate
shipment to a big market takes place
where it commands an enormous
price.
In the early days as the population
grew in numbers and barter between
the different sections of the country
increased, the value of the sea foods
Of the Chesapeake Bay and particu
larly the Eastern Shore section, b.
came more and more apparent, and to-
day the name of the Tangier Sound
oyster, the Crisfeld Soft Shell crab,
the Pocomoke shad, and the Chesa-
reake Bay Diamond Back terrapin
are familiar household words in every
state in this country and Canada.
Edward, Prince of Wales, and
grandfather of the present English
Prince, enjoyed the delicious seafoods
in Baltimore and Washington while
on tour of this country. During the
last year of his reign as king 1909 he
gave great banquet to his court,
the main delicacies of which came
from the waters of Tangier Sound,
Canvas Back Duck from the flats of
South Marsh in the Chesapeake Bay
opposite Deals Island and the famous
Tangier Salt oyster constituted the
main part of the menu. The consign-
ment was assembled at Crisfield, fill
ing nearly two railroad cars, and
shipped to New York where it was
transferred to the refrigerator COM
partments of transatlantic liner in
which it completed its journey to Liv-
erpool and thence to London.
This is only one of many tributes
paid to the excellent quality of our
seafoods and only another compliment
to a reputation established in the good
old Colonial days. We still have the
quality but, my Friends consider the
quantity. Yesterday we had plenty,
today we are wasting it, and tomor-
row it will be gone. Gone-can we
fully realize the significance of that
four letter word until the morrow act
ually comes upon us? 1t is human
nature to let things slide but it is q
that among the things
that slide are matters of the most
vital Importance. And in this de-
structive treatment of our seafoods.
we are allowing an extreme necessity
to our future existence to slip from
beneath our fingers. The food of the
sea was the principa. dict Of our fore
fathers as a result of it's plentiful |
ness; it has been a great factor in
our lives due to its cheapness, and it
must be preserved for our descend
ants in order that t may check and
balance eXtortinate rates Of other
foods.
With the determination of these
forms of marine life in our
Bays and Rivers the second greatest
industry of our Shore will be destroy
I'd. Crisfeld alone, the largest sea-
'ood center in the world, realized d
lew thousand over s10,000,0O0 from
he sale of seafoods alone in the year
1922. Thus you can readily see the
great possibilities of this great in
lustry and the necessity for its proper
fc:' future needs