Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04
TAX Would SAVE
POTOMAC OYSTERS
Maryland Official Says Beds
Face Early Depletion
Without Law.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


BALTIMORE, Md, September g.
Oyster beds In the Potomac River
area have become greatly depleted.
owing to lack of sufficient shells on
which to hatch spawn, and unless
concurrent action Is taken by both
Maryland and Virginia til, beds will
become barren within few years."
declared Swepson Earle. State con.
servation commissioner, today on his
return from a sea food parley with
conservation officials Of Virginia at
Colonial Beach. Va. Imposition OF
bushel tax on Potomac River oysters
for reshelling the beds, in the opin.
ion Of Mr.. Earle. is the only salvation
for the industry. This tax, however,
cannot be laced unless the Virginia
Legislature sanctions 1t at its meeting
in January.
Under the conservation laws passed
at the last session Of the Maryland
Assembly, the conservation commits.
sioner was given authority to impose
a tax as high as 10 cents bushel
o.. oysters taken from any of the
oyster bars in the State, where in his
opinion it was necessary for the con-
servation Of the beds. Lacking this
authority, the conservation commits
sioner of Virginia cannot place any
tax on the oysters taken from Viz
ginia beds, and consequently nothing
can be done.
Survey to Be Made,
In the meanwhile, a survey of all
Potomac River oyster beds will be
made by Mr.. Earle and Harry Huston.
conservation commissioner Of Vir-
ginia, who will then make recon-,
mendations to the State Legislature
for the passage of strict conservation
laws, Mr.. Earle said the conference
yesterday was very encouraging, and
the Virginia officials are DESTROYS of
cooperating with Maryland in every
way to, conserve the sea food industry
of the Potomac River. AS a sample
of what can be done toward conserva-
ton of oysters, Mr.. Earle cited the
fact that two years ago he closed the
oyster bars at Cedar Point and plant
cd $50 bushels of shells. This year
than q week 10000 bushels Of oysters
had been culled. When the beds were
closed, he said, they We're practically
depleted, and after 10000 bushels had
been removed he again closed the
beds to allow the oysters to propagate.
but they may be opened later this
season.
Crab Industry Improves.
Since both States have been co.
operating, the crab industry has
shown improvement, according to Mr.,
Earle, land the same results can be
obtained with oysters and other sea.
food"
The controversy between Maryland
and Virginia over the question OF re.
quiring hook.and-line fishermen OF
Virginia to take out nonresident
licenses to fish in the Potomac River,
above tidewater, was discussed, and
it is believed the Virginia conserva'
ton officials will recommend the pas.
sage Of a fishing law similar to that
of Maryland with the same license
fees.
The amount of the tax t. be placed
on oysters taken from the Potomac
River bars will depend on how badly
the beds have been depleted, Mr..
Earle, said, and this cannot be deter.
mined until the survey has been COM
pleted. but it will not be over 10 cents
a bushel.
The first oysters of the season ar.
rived here today on steamers from
the Eastern Shore. The shipment
consisted of 80 barrels in the shells
and 200 gallons shucked. Inspectors
of the conservation commission who
examined the arrivals said they were
in excellent condition, and predicted
q very good season.