THE OYSTER. 21$ 



for all, and it is the right as well as the duty of our 

 people to see to it that our natural inheritance in the 

 bay be fully developed and used to the best advantage 

 for the good of all. 



The protection of the people who now depend upon 

 the natural beds for a living must always be kept in 

 view, but our people should awaken to a sense that 

 interest in the matter is not confined to the men who 

 are engaged in the oyster business. 



To ourselves and to our posterity we owe it that 

 our resources shall be fully developed, for our oyster- 

 beds are our greatest source of wealth, and upon them, 

 more than upon our commerce, our manufactures, or 

 our farming land, the future wealth and prosperity 

 and population of our State depend. 



Every one of us appreciates that it is for his interest 

 to get his little private supply of oysters for home use 

 as cheaply as possible, but scarcely any one, except 

 the oysterman, realizes that this is the least of his in- 

 terests in the matter. If our population were increased 

 fifty-fold, the oysters needed for home consumption 

 would even then be only a small part of the supply 

 which our waters can be made to furnish ; and every 

 one who is interested in Maryland, all business men 

 who will be benefited by an increase in wealth and 

 population, all farmers who pay taxes to the State, and 

 all persons who own property here, should awaken to 

 the fact that our greatest source of wealth is almost 

 absolutely undeveloped. 



The wealth which is within the reach of our people 

 and their descendants from the oyster-grounds of the 

 State is great, almost beyond expression, and it is not 



