CHAPTER V. 



A TALK ABOUT OYSTERS. 



An intelligent and successful farmer, visiting an 

 oyster-packer in Baltimore, said : : I know nothing of 

 oysters except what I have heard, but I wish to know 

 more, and I should like to ask you a few questions. 

 Since I have been here I have seen in the newspapers 

 most glowing statements regarding the advantages of 

 Maryland for producing oysters, yet I am constantly 

 being told that all branches of the oyster industry are 

 depressed and in a most discouraging condition. The 

 last two or three winters have been very mild and, I 

 should suppose, very favorable for work upon the beds ; 

 yet I hear that few of the oystermen earned enough 

 to pay expenses last year, and they all say that this 

 winter matters have been very much worse. Your 

 friends in the packing business tell me that the oysters 

 are deteriorating in quality, and that they are growing 

 so scarce that some of the packers have moved away 

 from Baltimore. You say that people in Australia and 

 New Zealand, as well as in Europe and in all parts of 

 our own country, who formerly ordered great quanti- 

 ties of Maryland oysters, no longer patronize you. 

 You complain that, while your business is falling 



