Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-24

iron scrapper and net are
dragged along the oyster beds,
was first forbidden by both
States in 1881. The major rea-
son voiced for the action was
conservation-the belief that
dredging tears up the beds and
hats oyster production.
longing. still permitted on the
Potomac. involving the use of
tines attached to long handles
in a chopstick-like operation by
which q few oysters at a time are
plucked from the bed. The oper-
alton is slower. and cuts possible
profits as much as 10 per cent.
Even before the fate Of the
Phoebus bill has been decided,
however, Maryland authorities
and Virginia oystermen have
started drawing other battle
plans.
Maryland,s Gov. McKeldin has
asked the General Assembly for
100000 to purchase two high
speed patrol boats which can
overtake the speedy boats of
dredgers. The purchase would
bring the TICS fleet to As boats
and its strength. to about 100
officers.
Wrap Blockade Running
On the night Of Gov. Nickel.
din's report. in q quiet Colonial
Beach, (Va.) restaurant, a half.
dozen Virginia oystermen were
talking about ways they might
successfully run the threatened
tighter blockade. The next day.
in similar communities down
stream, the reaction was the
same:
Il don't care what Maryland
does" said a gruff. heavy-set
FISHERMAN. THE only thing /
know is that I've got to make q
living and dredging is the only
way to do It,"
On both sides Of the broad
river the conflict that has
produced at least one death, in
juries to oystermen and police.
almost annual boat rammings
and eunflre, and bitter enmity
seems to be approaching q new
climax.
But what about the bill that
would legalize dredging?
These men predict its failure.
either in the Maryland Legis-
lature or in winning the required
approval Of the Virginia Legis-
lature:
Senator Phoebus, the bills
sponsor, fears rnassed opposition
by Southern Maryland watermen
and their Assemblymen. He says
opponents Of the measure are
afraid 1t would bring on an in
fiux OF dredging rigs from the
Eastern Shore and that the in
dividual FISHERMAN would soon
be replaced by large absentee
owner fleets.
Only Sailboats
Mayor L. c. Costenbader of
Colonial Beach is not an OYSTER
man but his official position has
given him a knowledge Of the
oyster industry and the reaction
OF Virginia watermen.
THE bill won't do any good"
he said. 1T restricts dredging to
sailboats. That's a horse and
buggy way of doing things, and
the oystermen here don't own
sailboats. Most Of the men would
oppose It,"
Mr.. Tawes explained the sail
boat provision of the measure,
which he said he supported.
AN oyster bed is marked by
q buoy, and a sailboat can
dredge back and forth across the
bed using a buoy as guide. But
1t can't. because Of wind and
other factors, dredge in the side
by-side rows that will clean out
the bed. On the other hand, a
motorboat and dredge can goI
over the bed like a man moving
his lawn-nothing is left"
Mr.. Tawes and his opposite
number in Virginia, Charles M.
Landlord, jr., chairman of the
Virginia Fisheries Commission,
predict failure of the Phoebus
bill. Neither would say why.
1.-THE bill won't pass because
Of political pressure" said David
secretary-treasurer Of
the oyster Institute Of America
and former TIC chairman.
1.-THE situation is worse In
Maryland than in Virginia." he
said, but In both States small
groups Of oystermen can kill
the bill. They've done 1t be-
fore"