Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-10-23
CRAB SEASON
CLOSED FOR
NEXT NOV.
Proclamation By Commission,
r. F. Duer, Chairman De-
cIares The Closing
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
MARYLAND VIRGINIA

In pursuance with the authority
vested upon it in the Acts of the Spec
ial Session of the Legislature of 1886,
Chapter 1877, the Conservation Com
mission of Maryland does hereby de-
clare the month Of November, 1885,
to be closed for the taking Of crabs in
the waters Of Maryland.
Conservation Commission of Md.
By Robert F. Duer, Chairman.
"The closing of the crab season in
Maryland waters on October thirty
first by the State Conservation De-
partment is a part of the interstate
agreement between Maryland and Vir-
GINA for the protection of the de-
creasing crab supply in the Chesa-
peake Bay and should have far-reach-
ing effects, especially if such protec-
tive measures are continued and en-
forced from year to year by the two
States" said Sterling G. Harris, Sec
rotary of the Tri-State Seafood AS
ISOLATION, in discussing the new law.
"Last winter at a conference held
in Annapolis, Virginia representatives
headed by Richard F. Armstrong,
Virginia Commissioner of Fisheries,
agreed to consider the benning of
sponge crab catching in Virginia pro-
vided Maryland agreed to close its
crab season on October thirty-first in
stead of November thirtieth. 1t was
contended by Mr.. Armstrong that
Maryland should do this to protect
the pregnant female crabs which mi
CRATE down the Bay during Septem-
Der, October and November to the
spawning grounds and form about
eighty per cent. of the crabs caught
in Maryland during this period.
"Acting on this plan of coopera-
ton, the Maryland Legislature i'm
mediately enacted law vesting the
Maryland Conservation Commission
with the power to declare the month
of November, 1886, to be closed for
the taking of crabs.
Governor Nice followed this impor-
tant interstate cooperation on crab
conservation by requesting Governor
Peery of Virginia to appoint a COM
mittee from Virginia to confer with
a similar committee from Maryland.
These two committees met at Old
Point, Virginia, on June End. The
Maryland committee, being convinced
that Virginia was determined to carry
out it's end of the bargain, agreed to
do likewise. Robert F. Duer, Chair
man of the Maryland Conservation
Department, stated that since Virgin
ia had closed it's season on sponge
crabs, he would promise to close the
Maryland crab season on October
thirty-first.
every person interested in con-
servation should applaud this initial
effort of interstate agreement on
conservation. I am certain it can be
done effectively and permanently ;"
Mr.. Harris. "In fact, our Association is
calling meeting of men from both
states engaged in the crab industry
for the purpose of working out pro-
gram of future crab conservation to
the Legislatures of Maryland and
Virginia for adoption.
"Unless such cooperative action is
taken and a workable policy adopted
for the future between Maryland and
Virginia, our entire crab industry will
be practically wiped out by the COM
petition of low-priced crab meat from
southern states. Our only way to
meet this competition is to bring back
the large supply of crabs in the
Chesapeake Bay