The commission to sell one of the older steamers, and the entire force becomes part of the naval auxiliary, with expenses and leasing paid by the federal government. World War I proves to be a windfall for the State Fishery Fleet.
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The Conservation Commission is legally authorized to reserve more planting areas based on these experiments. Oyster mortalities occur in the upper Bay due to a freshet (1915 was also a freshet year in theġ917 Recognizing the importance of enhancement, a second experimental planting this year is the precursor to the large scale seed and shell program of the state. Growth of the oysters over the two year period was encouraging, with 65,000 bu.
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Low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), although there were no data to confirm this. At the time, one suggestion for the cause of the "blight" was planted inġ914 along the Calvert County shore from the upper Bay, suffered 85% mortality from unknownĬauses during late summer of 1916. The first experimental attempt by the state to transplant oyster seed, 100,000 bu. No dredges or patent tongs are allowed on the Potomac River seed areas, and tongers require Illegal larger tubs were used earlier because of the prevalence of unmarketable oysters and shell in the catch (culling was not required until 1890 and only loosely enforced afterwards) and as a means of reducing the per bushel tax payments. The Commission instructs its inspectors to rigorously enforce the legal measuring tub size, 21 in. pledges improved enforcement including hiring more inspectors. The Cull Law, which has been in effect since 1890, established a minimum size of 2½ inches for harvestable oysters with a 5% volume tolerance of illegal oysters and shell cultch. The Conservation Commission is created from several organizations, including the Shell Fish Commission. State conducts experimental seed and shell plantings that would eventually form theīackbone of oyster management in Maryland to the present time. Recognizing the need to goīeyond conservation to enhancement of the resource to reverse the slide in production, the Vessels with faster and more efficient motor patrol boats.
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Oyster inspectors are hired, and the state fishery force is upgraded by replacing sailing Resource, primarily through enforcement of the 2½ inch cull law. In an attempt to halt the trend of sharplyĭeclining harvests over the previous twenty years, the state takes measures to conserve the Maryland's oyster bars, is completed in 1912. (* Bushels shown next to years represent statewide landings for harvest year, not calendar year.)ġ910's The six year Yates Survey, which for the first time delineates the legal boundaries of CHRONOLOGY OF FACTORS AFFECTING OYSTER HARVESTS