150 
stances that may be quoted in order to show the disastrous- 
effects of over-working the beds, and in concluding the re- 
marks under that head, it will be instructive to extract from 
Professor Mobius’ work his prophecy with regard to our own 
beds, which is here introduced : 
“ In North America the oysters are so tine and so cheap 
“ that they are eaten daily by all classes. Hence, they are 
u now, and have been for a long time, a real means of subsist- 
“ ance for the people. This enviable fact is no argument 
“ against the injuriousness of a continuous and severe fishing 
“of the beds. * * * * But as the number of consumers- 
“ increases in America the price will also surely advance, and 
“ then there will arise a desire to fish the banks more severely 
“ than hitherto, and if they do not accept in time the unfor- 
“ tunate experience of the oyster culturists of Europe they 
“ will surely find their oyster beds impoverished for having 
“ defied the bioconotic laws.” 
The question now to be decided is how the protection of 
the beds and their improvement is to be brought about. The- 
protecting laws of the State of Maryland, which govern the 
larger part of the Sounds, are briefly as follows : Dredging is 
allowed from October 1st to May 1st. Taking of oysters in 
other ways from September 1st to May 1st. Dredging is 
not allowed in the rivers and creeks of the Sounds or in their 
mouths. No steam dredgers 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 estab- 
lished a State Fishery Force, consisting of one steamer and 
several small sloops ; one of the latter having jurisdiction over 
Tangier 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 per- 
sons make arrests or enforce the law ; the public opinion of 
the community being against such a proceeding, though every 
