158 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



water in Jlarylaml, we have oysters". This is the last official report in regard to the oyster-beds ; since it was made, 

 the beds have increased, and large quantities of oysters may now be caught in localities where a few years ago 

 there were none. 



Moreover, as will be exhibited subsequently in this report, the laws have never been in satistiictory shai)e for 

 the operations of the force, and uncertainty, confusion, and positive hinderaiice in the carrying out of their obvious 

 intention, has often arisen, through some misfortune in technical wording. 



" Since the oyster-police force was first established," Mr. Edmonds continues, " up to September 30, 1870, the 

 amount collected from dredgiuglicenses, measurers, and fines, exceeded the expenses of the force by $235,150 59. 

 In addition to this, there is a county tax iipon longing and scraping, which averages about $10,000 a year. This 

 amount is, by law, paid to the public schools of the respective counties. It would be necessary for the state to 

 maintain the police force, even if it had to be done by appropriation from the general treasury. Disband the force, 

 and in a few weeks the bay would be a battle grouiid for tongei-s and dredgers. This was plainly demonstrated 

 last winter, on the Rappahannock river. Virginia having abolished dredging on natural rocks, it was decided to 

 do away with the police force. In the winter of 1879-'S0 about forty dredging-boats entered the Rappahannock 

 and began work. The native tongmen, incensed at this depredation upon their beds, undertook to drive the 

 dredgers away. In this, however, they signally failed. The dredgers, being well suijplied with rities, opened fire 

 upon the tongmen. For several weeks the appearance of a tongman at any time, was certain to draw forth a volley 

 from the dredgers. The legislature being in session at the time, it was decided to supply the tongmen with a cannon, 

 a large number of rifles, and a supply of ammunition. Before the arrival of these, however, the dredgers hail left. 

 Such is but a sample of what would be constantly occurring, if the dredgers of Maryland were not overawed by the 

 liolice. 



"In Virginia there are some laws for taxing oysters, but as there are no means of enforcing them, they are 

 worthless. The total amount of license-money received during 1879 was only a few hundred dollars. When 

 gathering the statistics of the oyster-trade in Maryland, the matter seemed perplexing enough ; but when the eftbrt 

 was made to obtain the same information in Virginia, the task was found to be even worse. State officials, from 

 county clerks to auditor, knew nothing definite about the business. There was no license, as in Maryland; no 

 record of the number of boats or men ; in fact, nothing upon which to begin laying a foundation. The county 

 officials, however, willingly rendered all the aid in their power, and to many of them I am greatly indebted for their 

 kind assistance. 



Dredging. — " There are really but two ways of catching oysters practiced in this state : dredging and longing. 

 Scraping is but dredging on a smaller scale. 



" Before discussing the merits and faults of our present method of dredging, it may be well to give some 

 description of this manner of catching oysters, which, while very familiar to Marylanders, may not be so well 

 understood by those who have never witnessed the practical working of it. Dredges are bags made of iron rings 

 linked together, forming meshes similar to those of an ordinary seine, the mouth being held open by an iron frame, 

 from the four corners of which proji ct four iron bars converging to a point at a distance of a few feet from the 

 mouth; to this point a short chain is attached, and joined to the chain is a long rope which winds around the 

 windlass. Projecting downward from the bar, attached to the lower edge of the mouth, are iron teeth, which, as 

 the dredge is drawn over the bottom, scrape up the oysters and guide them into the bag. Every vessel is supplied 

 with two dredges and two windlasses, the latter being made stationary about midway of the deck on each side of 

 the vessel. At the point where the windlass is screwed to the deck, a portion of the rail, three or four feet long, is 

 removed, where," fastened to the side of the vessel, is an iron bar, over which the chain and rope run when the 

 dredge is being worked, saving wear and tear. Tlie windlasses are so arranged that each is worked by four men 

 at the same time. When the boat reaches dredgiug-ground the captain takes the helm and the men prepare for 

 their laborious task. The dredges are thrown overboard, and the vessel continues on her course imtil it is supposed 

 that the d:edge, which usually holds two or three bushels, is full, and then it is hauled up and its contents, 

 consisting of oysters, stones, shells, crubs, fish, etc., emptied on deck. If the vessel has passed across the bar, she 

 tacks and recrosses the ground, and continues sailing over the same bar for hours. 



Culling and loading. — "If dredging is done in the day-time, the oysters are at once 'culled', but when 

 working at night this is deferred until morning. 'Culling ' consists in separating the oysters from the other things 

 brought up by the dredge and throwing the latter overboard, while the former are placed in the hold of the vessel. 

 In this manner the work continues until the vessel is loaded, when she at once proceeds to market. A trip will 

 generally take about twelve or thirteen days. The effect upon an oyster-bar of dredging, has been thoroughly 

 studied, both in this country and in Europe, and the conclusion almost invariably reached is, that it is beneficial 

 to the beds when properly conducted as to time and manner; and my own investigations have satisfied me that 

 tliis is correct. An oyster-bar, when left undisturbed for a number of years, has a tendency to solidify into an 

 almost impenetrable rock. Dredging prevents this, and, by scattering the oysters over a wide area, greatly 

 extends the bar. 



