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be brought about. The protection laws of the State of Maryland, which govern the larger part of 

 the Sounds, are, briefly, as follows : Dredging is allowed from October 1 to May 1. Taking of 

 oysters in other ways from September 1 to May 1. Dredging is not allowed in the rivers and creeks 

 of the Sounds or in their mouths. No steam dredges are allowed. All dredgers and "tongers" must 

 be licensed. Violations of the law are punished by not more than two years imprisonment nor 

 $200 fine. For the enforcement of these regulations there is established a State Fishery Force, 

 consisting of one steamer and several small sloops ; one of the latter having jurisdiction over Tan- 

 gier and Pocomoke Sounds. The officers of this Fishery Force and the sheriffs and constables of 

 the different counties are empowered to make arrests and enforce the law. 



The above is the amount of protection afforded by the law if carried out. In the Sounds, in 

 reality, there is none. Neither the State Fishery Force, sheriffs, constables, or any other persons 

 make arrests or enforce the law, the public opinion of the community being against such a pro- 

 ceeding, though every one recognized the necessity when considered in the abstract. I have seen 

 numbers of dredgers at work and the police boat cruising among them, and this was during the 

 latter part of August, when, if at any time, the oysters should have been free from disturbance. 



Before deciding upon the measure of protection to be given to the beds, it may be well again 

 to see what has been accorded by foreign governments and with what success. On the Schleswig- 

 Holstein banks the "close time" is from the 9th of May to the 1st of October; no oysters less than 

 2£ inches in length are removed at any time. The law is enforced, and still the beds are deterio- 

 rating. 



In Ireland, the "close time" is from May 1 to September 1, and in some localities of the coast 

 from the 1st of April and the 1st of March until the 1st of October and the 1st of November. It is 

 unlawful to dredge or have in possession any oysters or oyster brood during the "close time." The 

 inspector of fisheries can call a meeting of interested persons to decide upon a change of " close 

 time." Inspectors are empowered to permit the planting of oysters and to prohibit the presence 

 of dredges on board any boat during the "close time." The coast guard and constabulary are 

 empowered to enforce the laws, and violators are suitably punished. 



The deep-sea fisheries for oysters in the English Channel are governed by rules adopted by 

 England and France. The "close time" is from the 16th of June to the 31st of August. Any 

 boat having a dredge, or other implement used for taking oysters, during that time, is considered 

 as having violated- the law. Competent courts of each country have power to punish offenders 

 and the cruisers of each nation power to enforce the law, which is strictly observed by the French 

 fishermen and frequently violated by the English. 



In France the oyster beds are protected by stringent and effective laws, which may be briefly 

 stated as follows: The government assumes control over all oyster banks and fore-shores. As 

 occasion may seem to require, an entire bank, or part of it, may be reserved from dredging for a 

 certain time, decided by the local commission. The general practice seems to be to buoy off a 

 third or fourth of a bank each year, which portion is only sufficiently dredged to remove weeds, 

 mud, vermin, &c; the remainder of the bed is opened to all licensed persons for a certain specified 

 time; the following year another part of the bank is reserved, and occasionally parts are reserved 

 for a longer period. The local commission decides all matters pertaining to the beds and their 

 vicinity, and is composed of the following officers: The inspector of the fisheries, the commander of 

 the fishery guard, two "Gardes-Maritimes," one fisherman, master of a boat. The following are the 

 most important regulations made for the guidance of the commissions by the minister of the 

 marine : The beds should not be opened for fishing until the spat has acquired strength to resist 

 the action of the dredge; until the end of January, for example. When a bed has well established 

 breeding capacities, a fourth or fifth part of its total area should be set apart as a reserve, and 

 dredging over such part entirely prohibited. A fishery-guard boat should, whenever practicable, 

 take part in the working of each bed. When a bed is foul or encumbered with weeds or other 

 matter noxious to the development or adherence of spat, it should be open for dredging until 

 cleaned. Beds on which there is never any production of spat shall be opened all through the 

 season. After the working of any bed is over, it should be carefully inspected and, if necessary, 

 the cultch replenished. The "close time" is between the 1st of May and the 31st of August, and 

 is strictly observed. The foregoing regulations have caused a great improvement in the beds on 



