THE OYSTER INDUSTRY OF MARYLAND. 
221 
the establishment of the boundary line between Maryland and Virginia in 1877, the 
Maryland oystermen worked as far south as Watts Island; but by the award of the 
boundary commission of the year noted only about 23 square miles of the area of this 
sound was left within Maryland limits, all of which is situated within Somerset 
County. The area of the natural oyster-grounds in the Maryland portion of this 
sound approximates 8 square miles and the annual product is about 250,000 bushels, 
valued at $ 150,000. Tonging is the only form of fishery authorized, scraping having 
been interdicted in 1880. The reefs extend up the Pocomoke Eiver a short distance 
beyond Old John Creek; while numerous, they are mostly of small area. In general 
the bottom is of mud, with sand or gravel near inshore. Apes Hole Creek, a tribu- 
tary of this sound, is a favorite locality for the planting of oysters, a practice which 
prevails to a limited extent in certain parts of Maryland. 
A- right to oyster in common in the “Pocomoke Eiver” exists between the citizens 
of Maryland and Virginia, this being admitted by both States. But a question exists 
as to where the river terminates and the sound begins. Citizens of Maryland claim 
that the mouth of the river is at the lower end of Sikes Island, but Virginians con- 
tend that it is at Williams Point, several miles above, and exercise exclusive jurisdic- 
tion to that point, leaving but a small area of reefs in common. Unfortunately this 
contention has not been without loss of life, and is still unsettled: 
The following interesting statements were made by Lieut. Francis Winslow, in 
writing of the general condition of the oyster reefs of Tangier and Pocomoke sounds 
after making an examination in 1878 and 1879: 
The general opinion [among the oystermen] is that about twenty or twenty-five years ago, with 
the improved appliances in use at present, one-third more oysters could haye been taken in the 
northern part of Tangier Sound than at present, from two to five times as many about Crisfield, and in 
Pocomoke Sound nearly seven times as many as at the present day ; that without any of the modern 
contrivances it was possible then for either tongers or dredgers to take many more in a day than at 
present. The general opinion of all persons in or about the sounds, with a very few exceptions, is 
that the beds are being worked much beyond their capacity and the majority are in favor of extending 
the close time” as a remedy for the deterioration. Many think that a resting time of a year or more 
would be beneficial. 
After tbe writing of tbe foregoing the fishery in each of these sounds continued to 
decrease until 1884-85, when the excellent set obtained in 1883 enabled the oystermen 
to gather a rich harvest. During that season and the one following, tongmen made 
during some days from $8 to $12. But much destruction was effected by thousands 
of bushels of oysters, having from 1 to 50 young ones attached to each individual, being 
sold at the shucking-houses. The reefs yielded very well again in 1891-92, but during 
the last season the oysters have been less abundant. 
Crisfield, Vienna, Whitehaven, Seaford (Delaware), and several smaller oyster- 
marketing ports, all combined utilizing aunually about 1,600,000 bushels, derive their 
chief supply from this region. 
GhoptanTc River . — This river is situated within Dorchester and Talbot counties, 
and, together with its tributaries, covers an area of 165 square miles. The depth of 
water ranges from a few inches to 13 fathoms, and averages from 10 to 40 feet. The 
bottom is mainly hard yellow and gray sand, with occasional layers of blue mud and 
sometimes clay, only a small portion of it being soft. The area of natural oyster- 
grounds situated in this river and its tributaries approximates 40 square miles, on 18 
square miles of which the use of scrapes is authorized, the remaining area being 
reserved exclusively for the tongmen. 
