MARYLAND: OYSTER INDUSTRY. 



437 



would be an average of not less than $1,500, and it is believed by many to be much higher. At this 

 rate, however, the seven hundred boats in the trade would be worth to-day $1,050,000. In addition 

 to this, the winders, dredges, rollers, and chains and dredge lines on each boat may be valued at 

 $100, although costing considerably more. Adding this to the value of the boats, we have 

 $1,120,000 as the amount of capital invested in the dredging boats. The total tonnage of the 

 dredging-boats being 16,366, and the estimated value of the same being $1,050,000, the average 

 value will be $64.15 per ton. As some tonnage has lately changed hands in Baltimore at $67, the 

 above estimate can scarcely be too great when the high class of many of the boats is considered. 

 The amount annually expended for repairing these vessels is about $105,000. 



SCRAPING AND TONGING. Scraping, which is simply dredging on a smaller scale, both as 

 to the size of the boat and the dredge, is conducted only in shallow water; and while dredge 

 licenses are issued by the State, scraping licenses are obtained from the counties, and hold good 

 only in the local waters of the county in which issued. Dorchester, Talbot, and Somerset are the 

 only counties in which scraping licenses are issued. In the first two the charge is regulated by 

 the tonnage of the vessel (being $2 per ton), while in the last there is a uniform charge of $10 on 

 each boat, regardless of size. The crews of these vessels average about four men each, the majority 

 of whom are able to return home after each day's work, as the boat does not go out of the county 

 waters, except to make an occasional run to a neighboring market. 



The number of scraping boats licensed during the past seven years is as follows: 



* No scraping law until 1874-'75. 



The above figures have been kindly furnished to me by the clerks of the respective counties, 

 and, while they embrace all vessels that are licensed, they by no means include all that are 

 scraping. From personal inspection and from reports of reliable persons I feel safe in placing 

 the number of scraping boats at 550. carrying 2,200 men. The additional 330 boats are working 

 without license. The pay of these men will average about $18 a month each for the seven and a 

 half months employed, amounting to $135 for the season, and making a total of $297,000 received 

 by the 2, 200 men, including the captains, whose pay is of course larger than that of the men. 



The average value of scraping boats, including their outfit, is $800, which gives a total of 

 $440,000 invested in scraping. About $27,500 is annually expended in repairing these boats. 

 Socially and morally the scrapers are somewhat superior to the dredgers. 



Tonging, although employing less capital and fewer men than dredging, is probably of 

 greater value to the State than the latter, because the men engaged in it are of a better class, are 

 better remunerated for their labor, and are less prone to evade the laws than the dredgers. 

 While this much may be said in the tongmen's favor, it is yet an unpleasant truth that they, like 

 all others engaged in the oyster trade, either as catchers or shuckers, are as a class indolent and 

 improvident. The majority of them live near the water, often owning a small house and an acre 

 or so of land (the value of which depends upon the proximity of good oyster and fishing grounds), 

 and a canoe or an interest in one, used in winter for oystering and in summer for fishing. Having 

 secured a house their ambition seems to be satisfied and but little time or money is spent in beau- 



