THE OYSTER, 1 67 



business to see to its preservation ; that is, its preser- 

 vation has been everybody's business instead of no- 

 body's, and consequently it has been preserved. 



Maryland cannot escape the action of universal laws, 

 and the sooner those interested in the matter recognize 

 the fact, and that a man does best by his own, whether 

 it be a wheat or oyster farm, the sooner will a correct 

 conclusion be reached regarding the oyster question. 



It seems as if there were little probability, even at 

 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 dis- 

 aster, 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 in- 

 dustry, might save our natural beds from complete 

 destruction. 



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 hap- 

 pening occasionally, as in many cases the little oysters 



