Evening star., 1925-01-20
OYSTER BAN MAKES
5000 IDLE ON BAY
Maryland Reused by Threat
to Industry From Fear of
Typhoid Infection.
BY ROBERT IT. SMALL.

Reports reaching here from the
lower Potomac and from the eastern
shores of Maryland and Virginia
make it clear that the recent typhoid
scare in Mfdwestern cities. followed
in some cases by an embargo, has al
most killed the oyster industry over
night. The oystermen naturally are
resentful of the reproach laid at the
door of the succulent bivalve. They
say that Chesapeake Bay oysters were
never better, never fatter, than this
season.
But the oyster boats are tied up at
the docks, the oyster houses are
closed and thousands of oyster shuck-
ers and packers are out of work in
one Of the hardest Winters the shores
Of the Chesapeake ever have known.
State Acts in Crisis.
The State of Maryland is thorough
ly aroused over the threat TO one of
it's leading industries and has or
dered complete survey of all the
oyster beds lying within State waters
This survey will not start, however
until March l at the earliest, and viii
not be completed until the oyster sea
son is at an end. So it Will not re-
lieve the situation of the next few
months, which is spelling ruin to the
oyster business.
There have been typhoid fears be
fore, and occasionally the outbreak Of
the disease has been laid to oysters
But never before now has there been
such an effect upon the business.
Some oystermen are attributing the
sudden end to their business to the
radio, which has been used by some
ri "a IG 70
against the oyster. Preparations are
being made to reply in kind, and next
week Swepson Earle, oyster con-
servation commissioner of Maryland,
| will deliver an address on the oyster
and its present situation through sta
| tion WCAP in this city.
Normal Home Consumption.
The old saying that the prophet is
not without honor save in his own
country, does not apply to the oyster,
| for over in Baltimore, where more is
| known about oysters than IN any
other city in the world, q survey, con
, Quoted by city authorities. shows
| there has been no diminution in the
use of the bivalves, either raw or un-
| cooked.
Conditions along the Eastern Shore
of Maryland are pictured as ex
| tremely depressing. At the little oys
ter town OF CrlSneld 1t is stated that
| 800 boats are either tied up at the
docks or anchored in the harbor.
Something like 5000 men are out Of
work. At all of the other interesting
! little towns, such as St. Micheals,
| Wachapreague and Chincoteague,
| whose oysters are famous. conditions
are virtually the same.
Some of the oyster houses are open
to supply local and State consump-
! tion. but shipments to the outside
stopped overnight. Men and women
| of the oyster towns are walking the
streets stunned by the calamity
which has overtaken them. At Chin
colleague it is stated there has not
| been a case of typhoid fever in more
| than two years.
| DR. John S. Fulton. Maryland com
| missioner Of health, has issued a Ger
titled statement to the effect that
during the years 1922 to 1924, inclu-
| sive. no cases of typhoid fever have
! been attributed to oysters taken in
| the waters of Maryland. And this in
| a State which eats oysters as no
/ other State does In Baltimore City
| alone $4,000 gallons of oysters are
consumed annually