THE OYSTER. 



149 



" What do you mean ? I do not understand the 

 state of affairs which you describe." 



" Why, you see, our people have always regarded 

 the oyster-beds as the property of the whole State. 

 They are natural wealth which has not been produced 

 by man, and no one person has any more right to 

 them than another. They belong to all the citizens of 

 the State in common. We all inherit a share of them 

 as part of our birthright as Marylanders. Our people 

 are therefore opposed to any system which would lead 

 to monopoly and would give to a few the exclusive 

 enjoyment of the natural advantages which belong to 

 all." 



" That seems wise and just, but most of your citi- 

 zens have other occupations and do not wish to engage 

 in oystering. How do they dispose of their common 

 rights?" 



" We have a system of licensing, and any citizen 

 who wishes to gather oysters on our common property 

 pays to the State treasury a fee for the privilege of 

 doing so, and in this way all the people of the State 

 get the benefit of our natural wealth." 



" I see. All your people are enriched by the sums 

 paid by a few dredgers for the monopoly of the com- 

 mon rights of the citizens, for this must be very great, 

 to judge by all you say of the value of your waters." 



" No ; that is hardly true, I am sorry to say. The 

 profits are not so great as you suppose. In fact there 

 are no profits at all. The dredgers themselves are not 

 prosperous, and they do not like to pay this tax out 



