202 THE OYSTER. 



the present day, of the necessary change in Maryland's 

 policy. Things of this kind, which so vitally interest 

 our whole community, rarely get better until they have 

 become decidedly worse. The current of public opinion 

 must be turned in the right direction by disaster, caused 

 by allowing ruinous systems to remain in force ; but it 

 is to be hoped that a point will soon be reached where 

 our people will become alive to the situation and apply 

 the remedy. 



If, however, the present system must remain in force, 

 there are some suggestions which may be offered which, 

 though they could never restore our lost industry, 

 might save our natural beds from complete destruc- 

 tion. 



One explanation which has been urged to account 

 for the destruction of our oyster-beds is the wanton or 

 unnecessary destruction of young oysters. Upon the 

 piles of shells which are thrown out from the packing- 

 houses great numbers of young shells can often be 

 found. They are, of course, dead, and as they are too 

 small to be of any use, their destruction is a clear loss 

 to our people. It is impossible to prevent this from 

 happening occasionally, as in many cases the little 

 oysters are so small and so firmly fastened to the old 

 one that they cannot be removed without destroying 

 them, and even if the oystermen could be compelled to 

 throw back on to the beds any large oyster which has 

 small ones fastened to it, there is reason to doubt 

 whether this would be advantageous, for one full- 

 grown oyster, like a bird in the hand, is more valuable 



