The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-02-04
OYSTER LEGISLATION
Maryland Legislature Considering
MeaSureS-SeafOo Com
mission Report

The program of the administration
with regard to the conservation an6
development of the seafood resources
of the Chesapeake Bay, backed by
Governor Richie and Conservation
Commissioner Swepson Earle, is
receiving considerable attention not
only from Eastern Shore members OF
the present Legislature but from
fishermen, oystermen and seaforc
experts generally along the eastern
reaches of Maryland's inland see
and it's tributaries.
In view of this fact the recon
mendations of the Seafood Com
mission appointed by Governo'
Richie last year to study the ques
ton, will be of interest, and the
report is published herewith:
Hon. Albert C. Richie,
Governor of Maryland,
Annapolis, Maryland.
Dear Sir
We, the undersigned members of
the Maryland Sea Food Committee
appointed by your Excellency, here
with submit the following recon
mendations for the preservation and
rehabilitation of the Oyster industry
of the State, made necessary by the
depletion of the States greatest
natural resources from $4,000, 900
bushels per annum to less thar
| . 000 000 hmcbaIc 1OOE
First-That the area in Chesa-
peake Bay, bounded on the north by
line drawn from the Anne Arun-
del-Calvert boundary on the Western
Shore to the southeasterly end of
Coaches Neck, (Which is the south
erly end of Popular Island group, J
and thence about an easterly course
to the mainland of Talbot county
known as Great Neck Point, and or
the south by line drawn from
Cove Point Lighthouse on the West
ern Shore due east to Dorchester
county on the Eastern Shore, which
was formerly reserved for dredging
purposes, be closed, and leased for
private planting to bona fide resi-
dents of Maryland
Second-That that part of Chesa
peake Bay lying north of a line
drawn from Sandy Point on tho
Western Shore to Love Point on the
Eastern Shore (known as the Head
of the Bay be utilized for the
propagation of oysters to be used to
supply seed stock for planting pur
poses, and to that end legislation be
passed permitting these oysters tc
be taken up after the close OF the
oyster dredging season for the above
purpose.
Third-That whenever in the
opinion of the citizens of any tide
water. counties it is deemed desirable
to survey and set aside for private
planting any depleted natural oyster
bars within the longing or scrapinp
areas of said county, petition
signed by not less than one hun.
dred citizens shall be filed with the
Conservation Department, who will
refer said petition to an Advisory
Committee, hereinafter provided for,
for the purpose of having said in
vestigate and determine after a pub
| lie hearing whether said area j.
depleted and should be leased.
Fourth-That the committee above
referred to shall consist OF eight
members, to be appointed by tho
Governor, to have full power, to
gether with the Conservation Com
missioner acting as Chairman OF
said Committee, to hear all request
as above mentioned. Said commit
tee, so appointed, shall hold four
regular meetings each year, anc
shall convene for special meetings.
at the call of the Chairman, as often
as said Chairman may deem such
meetings necessary. But said com
mittee is not to be authorized to ac
at either regular or special meetings
without the Conservation Commits
sioner and four additional members
present. The members of said
committee, so appointed, to receive
$500 per diem for their attendance
together with necessary travelling
expenses.
Fifth-That when any area ie
leased for oyster culture, either in
the bay or within the territorial
limits of any county, the lessee shall
guarantee to the State to place on
the bottoms so leased a stipulated
amount in value either of shells or
seed oysters for every acre leased
and if said lessee does not fulfil
said provisions OF bis contract with,
in reasonable time, TO be deter
mined by the Conservation Depart
ment or said committee, he forfeits
his rights under said lease.
Sixth-In addition to police pro-