Evening star., 1947-02-04
Maryland Senator
Predicts Violence in
0ystering Dispute

A predlctlon tnat violence WILL
fare 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 a
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
$4,000 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.. Warf1eld said. I'VE are
asking money for new patrol boats
that will be fast, dependable ana
provide the comfort to which their
crews are entitled"
Mr.. Warfleld said his department
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, Mr.
Warfield said.
The Fisheries Department 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 determinati ton to re-
quire oystermen of their own State
as we'll 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, 81 900
was required when Smith was per-
mitted to retain his boat. Under
State law boats are confiscated on
conviction of illegal dredging.
David A. Wallace, executive sec
retary of the Maryland Tidewater
Fisheries Commission, attended the
hearing. The commission has urged
enactment of law abrogating a bi-
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.
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.