150 



THE OYSTER. 



of their hard earnings for the use of what they regard 

 as their own. Many of them would evade it if they 

 could, so the State is forced to maintain a navy to pre- 

 vent unlicensed dredging, and this costs more than the 

 total sum received for licenses." 



" How is this deficiency made up by the taxpayers 

 of the State?" 



" Yes." 



" I see. But does it not seem to you that this means 

 that the people of Maryland pay taxes for the privi- 

 lege of giving up their natural rights for the benefit of 

 a monopoly ? ' 



" Yes, I suppose it does ; but then we have the satis- 

 faction of knowing that we have benefited a large 

 class of our people, and have afforded employment 

 for many worthy citizens of our State." 



" That is true ; but I learn from the papers that 

 foreign emigrants are met by the agents of the dredg- 

 ing captains, when they land at the Wharves in New 

 York, and that they are then engaged for service on 

 the Maryland oyster-boats. How can this happen if 

 the right to dredge upon the public beds is so highly 

 prized by your people?" 



" A dredger's life is very hard. The boats are 

 small, and when they are loaded with wet, cold, muddy 

 oysters there is not much room left for the crew. The 

 work is done in the most stormy months of the year. 

 The dredgers are exposed to all the hardships and 

 dangers of a sailor's life, and to some which are pecu- 

 liar to oystermen. The heavy dredges are hauled by 



