Evening star., 1949-01-15
00ysternnen
Seized in Raids
Il
Along Potomac
Top Fisheries Officers
Lead Roundup Of
Dredging Suspects

Agents Of the Maryland Tidewater
Fisheries Commission arrested II
Marylanders and three Virginians
on charges of illegal oyster dreadging
IN two separate raids yesterday on
the lower Potomac River.
Top officials of the fisheries de.
partment took part in raid con-
Quoted with high-speed boat near
Cobb Island which resulted in the
conflscation Of six oyster boats. Vir-
ginians have been blamed for most
dredging operations in the Potomac.
Maryland law, which has jurisdic-
ton, PROHIBITS dredging.
David H. Wallace, executive direc.
tor of the Tidewater Fisheries Com
mission, led the raid He said patrol
boats and inspectors ordinarily
assigned to the area did not
participate.
Other Boats Seen.
Mr.. Wallace and his agents, in
cluding John w. S. Foster, chief
inspector. came upon the Maryland
oystermen shortly after daybreak.
Mr.. Wallace said the boats quickly
scattered, and ignored orders to halt.
The enforcement officers, who were
in a swift hydroplane-type speed
boat, had to chase down one boat
at time. An agent was left on
each boat when it was overtaken,
then the speedboat went after the
next nearest boat until all were
caught. When no more agents were
left, the boats were immobilized by
removing part of the engines.
Enforcement officers said they
saw another dredging fleet at work
near Swami Point Bar several miles
away, but it scattered while the
first group was being rounded up.
Mr.. Wallace could not say wheth-
er any dredges were captured, but
it is true that all the boats were
equipped with masts and booms and
other dredging paraphernalia," hs
added.
Hearing Set for January Is.
The II Maryland men were taken
to La Plata, where all were charged
with illegal dredging. They were
listed as Maurice j. Simms, Robert
H. Simms, John Edward Simms,
John Harrison, Joseph w. Edelen,
Lloyd Clark. James ]. Clark, Will
son E. Swami. John Hill, Robert
L. Hill, Clarence E. Thomas, John
Middleton, Lester Hayden, Thomas
T. Chisley, Francis Stonestreet,
Wade Stine and James Stine.
All gave Charles County addresses
near Rock Point and Cobb Island.
They will face hearing at La Plata
or January 25 They stand to lose
their boats if they are convicted.
The three Virginians arrested were
picked up in a predawn raid near
the mouth of the st. Marys River.
The raid was led by Inspector Ches-
ter Cullison. Their boat was con.
flscated and they were charged with
illegal dredging and possession of
unculled oysters.
Chased Boat a Mile.
Inspector Cullison said he chased
the boat more than mile. States
CO1lll ol1SCOc Sdlu
hearing probably would be held
for the three men Monday at Leon
ardtown.
The Virginians arrested were
identified as Norman Brown, Fred
ericksburg; Thomas Jackson, Oak
Grove, and John Atwell, Colonial
Beach.
Yesterdays raid was believed to
be the first wholesale arrest of
Maryland oystermen for illegal
dredging. Virginia oystermen have
admitted they use dredges, but said
the Marylanders used dredges also
Maryland law permits oysters to be
taken only with tongs.
Virginia oystermen have asked for
legalizing dredging, with a limit on
the size of dredges, claiming they
cannot make living by using tongs.
They also say the deep oyster beds
of the Potomac River are unsuitable
fOr WORKING with tonpS