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tonging dredging for oysters ?
SUPPLY BY TONGING INSUFFICIENT FOR DE?'AND -- >'ORE JOBS CREATED BY DREDGING -- OYSTER BEDS UNHURT DESCRIPTION AND FACTS NATIONALLY ABOUT WHY MISSISSIPPI SHOULD ENDORSE AND USE DREDGES August 26, 1893
The Biloxi Herald - August 26, 1893
OYSTER DREDGING
W We (the editors) call attention to the card of Lopez, ©unbar's Sons & Co. addressed to the public. It is to be supplemented by a petition to the Board of Supervisors (of Harrison County) asking a modification of the rules adopted at the last meeting of the Board in reference to the use of dredges for taking oysters. The use of dredges, as the proof shows, in no manner injures the oyster, but on the other hand, in breaking up the bed and scattering the shells and small oysters increases the area of the beds and largely promotes their growth. It is, in fact, cultivating xnf untilled land.
It is shown by the letters of well-informed and experienced men that this f8ct has been demonstrated, and as a result there is no prohibition in any of the older oyster states of the use of dredges in fishing oysters. The further fact is shown that they are in use in private beds, which would not be done if they were in any way hurtful.
A strong point is made by the factory men, when they say it is not possible to get a sufficient number of oysters for canning by the present mode of tonging to keep their factories running more than half the time. This is a serious injury to a large class of operatives in the factories—women and children—as it takes away meat and bread from them to the extent of the loss of time, whereas working full time in the oyster season, it would give them more of the luxuries of life and enable them to lay aside something for a rainy day. The petition, we assume, will only ask that dredges may be used on such terms and restrictions for the protection of oysters as the Board may impose. On reconsideration, we cannot doubt that the Board of Supervisors will make such modifications of the rules adopted as will be fair and just to all the parties concerned.
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