Evening star., 1947-02-04
vioIenceFeared
By Senator in
Oyster Dispute
GoIdstein Asks States
To Act; Smith Island
Man Fined $210

A prediction that violence will
flare in the Maryland Virginia
oyster dispute unless the two States
come to quick agreement, was made
today by State Senator Louis L.
Goldstein, Democrat, Of Calvert
County.
He declared at Annapolis after q
tour of the Lower Potomac River
area:
Everywhere I went people are
hoping that some joint action can be
taken by the two States. But they
feel that if Virginia will not CO.
operate in enforcing the laws,
Maryland should take action"
Funds Shortage Cited.
In Annapolis Edwin Warfield, jr.,
head Of Maryland's Department on
Tidewater Fisheries, said today the
.$30, 900 his department spends yearly
in enforcement of Potomac River
oyster laws is "woefully inadequate"
"A parallel would be to put the
State police on bicycles and ask
them to enforce the motor vehicle
laws" Mr.. Warfield said. I'VE are
asking money for new patrol boats
that will be fast, dependable and
provide the comfort to which their
crews are entitled"
Mr.. Warfield said his departments
attempted to obtain fast sea-air
rescue craft used during the war
and now surplus but was baked for
lack of funds.
Boats Too Slow.
The department planned to install
smaller engines, but the boats still
would not be fast enough to catch
oystermen who speed for shore every
time one of the "pokey" Maryland
patrol boats hoves into sight, MIR.
Warfield said.
The Fisheries Departments patrol
fleet recently was augmented by an
amphibious plane which patrols
Maryland waters searching for
oyster boats using illegal dredges.
Senator Goldstein's comment came
after the latest development yes
terday at Leonardtown, where Mary
land enforcement officials demon
strated their determination to re-
quire oystermen of their own State
as well as Virginians-to observe
Free State conservation laws.
Oysterman Is Fined.
A Smith Island oysterman was
fined $210 and costs when found
guilty of dredging, prohibited by
Maryland but allowed under certain
circumstances by Virginia, and also
for possession of undersized oysters.
George w. Smith, who was con-
victed by Trial Magistrate j. Ralph
Abel, posted $1,250 bond to file
an appeal. OF the total bond, $1,000
was required when Smith was per-
mitted to retain his boat. Under
tState law boats are confiscated on
conviction of illegal dredging.
Inspectors Mace Burch and Paul
Dunbar of the Maryland Tidewater
Fisheries Commission, arrested
Smith after overtaking him in q
patrol boat. They testified ropes on
Smiths dredge rig@Were wet and
estimated 20 per cent of wet oysters
aboard were undersized.
Dredging Denied.
Smith said he had taken the oys-
ters with tongs, permitted under
Maryland law, on January %. When
the patrol boat overlook him he was
heading for an inlet on the Virginia
shore across from Point Lookout
where dredging is permitted, he said.
He named Virginia seafood packer
for whom he was to work.
James A. Lewis, the packer said
Smith was not working for him at
the time but he had invited the
oysterman to dredge in Virginia
waters.
David A. Wallace, executive Sec
retary of the Maryland Tidewater
Fisheries Commission, attended the
hearing. The commission has urged
enactment of a law abrogating BIZ
lateral agreement between the two
States that oyster law violators in
Maryland's Potomac River shall be
prosecuted in the resident State Of
the violator Maryland contends Vir-
ginia does not impose sufficient PEN
alties. Virginia oystermen freely ad-
NIT to their use of dredges, mostly
at night.
Smiths appeal to the st. Marys
County Circuit Court was filed by
his attorneys, Philip H. Dorsey and
w. o. E. Sterling, both of Leonard
town.
3 Named to Commission.
After appointing three members
to a proposed six-member commits
sion to work out joint river control
problems, Gov. Tuck of Virginia left
for Today vacation in Florida. In
Annapolis, the administration Of
Gov. Lane remained officially silent.
Senator Goldstein is chairman Of
the Senate Chesapeake Bay and
Tributaries Committee which re-
ported the bill to abrogate the two
State agreement. The measure has
passed the Senate and probably will
come up for House action this week.
Senator Goldstein expressed the
hope that Senate Committee would
report. favorably tomorrow on
resolution calling on Gov Lane to
appoint the three Maryland mem
bers of the Commission to meet
with the Virginia-appointed mem
berS.
Arlington Building Hits
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