THE OYSTER. 1 8/ 



In Ireland the season opens on September first in 

 some localities, on October first in others, and on 

 November first in others, and it closes on March first, 

 April first or May first. It is unlawful to possess any 

 oysters during the closed term. The inspectors of 

 fisheries can call a meeting of interested persons to 

 decide upon a change in the closed season. 



In the English Channel the closed season, as estab- 

 lished by the concurrent legislation of England and 

 France, is June sixteenth to August thirty-first, and 

 any boat found at this time with a dredge aboard is 

 held guilty of a violation of the law. 



In Maryland in 1884 no dredging was allowed be- 

 tween April 1st and October 1 5th, and no oysters in the 

 shell could be carried outside of the State between 

 April 1st and September 1st. There is also a State 

 law in the following words : " It shall be unlawful for 

 any person or persons to take or catch oysters, except 

 for private use, to the amount of five bushels per day, 

 or for sale of the same to any citizen or citizens of the 

 neighborhood, and to them only for the purpose of 

 being consumed when sold, or for the purpose of re- 

 planting or bedding in the waters of the counties 

 wherein they are caught, or for sale to the citizens of 

 the county wherein they are caught, and to them only 

 for the purpose of replanting or bedding in the waters 

 of said counties, between the 15th day of April and 

 the 1st day of September." 



A special aftt of the Legislature is needed to ex- 

 plain what the ambiguous wording of this section 

 is intended to prohibit or permit; but Sec. 13, of 

 the Act of 1874, for which the words above quoted 



