FISHEKIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 489 



FISHERIES OF MARYLAND. 



In 1901 the fisheiy products of Maryland show a small increase in 

 value over 1897, at which time the State ranked first among the Middle 

 Atlantic States in the value of its fisheries. Notwithstanding this 

 increase, the State is now surpassed in the value of fishery products 

 by New Jersey, Virginia, and New York. The value of Maryland's 

 fishery resources depends largely upon the oyster, the yield being 

 worth more than four times as much as that of all other products 

 combined. The greater part of the capital in this fishery is invested 

 at Baltimore in oyster canneries, shucking houses, and dredging and 

 transporting vessels. 



Though the oyster season of 1900-1901, compared with 1897-98, 

 shows a decided decrease in the number of bushels taken, there has 

 been an increase in the value of the catch. The best catches by dredg 

 ing vessels were from grounds in the upper part of Chesapeake Bay, 

 and being near Baltimore were sold direct to dealers there instead of 

 to transporting- vessels. 



The diminished supply of oysters on natural beds in some localities 

 has induced many oystermen to engage in planting on private beds. 

 The benefits of oyster-planting are already apparent, and the future 

 promises greater success, provided more ample protective laws are 

 enacted. It is difiicult, however, to pass laws that would suit both 

 03^stermen and crabbers in Dorchester and Somerset counties, as the 

 crabbers object to crabbing grounds being taken for 03^ster-planting 

 purposes. Maryland oj^ster planters have also suffered considerably 

 through a law passed by the State of Virginia prohibiting the ship- 

 ment of seed oysters from that State, thus cutting off a prolific source 

 of suppl3^ Before this law went into effect Maryland planters could 

 obtain their seed oysters from Virginia at an average cost of 15 cents 

 a bushel, while now the prices range from 20 to 40 cents. The prin- 

 cipal sources of suppl}" of seed oysters are the Potomac, Little Chop- 

 tank, Choptank, and Honga rivers, and Eastern Ba.y. The most 

 important planting grounds are in Fishing Bay, Pocomoke Sound, 

 Chincoteague Bay, and the Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers. The 

 planters in these waters are assured of a considerable degree of 

 safety, as the crabbing industry is practically of no importance there. 



The following extract from an editorial in the Baltimore Siui of 

 April 20, 1903, may be of interest as showing the attitude of those 

 who advocate more extensive oyster planting: 



Oyster planting.— A. dispatch to The Sun from Prince Frederick says that many 

 tongers in Calvert County have taken up lots for planting oysters. This is gratifying 

 intelligence and indicates that the oystermen are beginning to awaken to the situ- 

 ation. There has been much complaint lately of seed oysters being taken from the 

 State. It is to be hoped that a great number of lots will be staked off before the 



