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them. All that was needed was capital to develop them,
and it should be the duty of this officer to call attention
to them.
Mr. Bateman did not think it was practicable to plant
oysters on the shores of the bay, but only on the inlets.
His experience as an oyster planter was a practical one,
and it was the reverse of profitable with him. This whole
thing had better be left to private enterprise. The laws
of the State did not seem to be sufficient to keep foreigners
from coming into our waters and stealing the oysters, and
he did not think the State would gain any revenue by it.
Mr. Stoddert said the object was not for the State to
turn oyster catchers, but to show to the people the true
value of these lands and induce immigration.
Mr. Howard said the inspection system of Maryland
was an arrant humbug, by which certain officers were
kept in fat places at the expense of the people of the
State, and he would oppose any new system which would
go still further into the pockets of the people.
Mr. Hollyday, in support of his substitute, spoke of the
immense resources of the Chesapeake bay and its tribu-
taries within the State of Maryland, and it was a matter
of the greatest moment to the State that they should be
developed. Maryland had never given any attention to
this subject, but Virginia had. Mr. H. also alluded to the
exodus of the negro laborers from that part of the State,
and the necessity of looking to immigration to supply the
loss.
The substitute of Mr. Hollyday was adopted.
Section 6 was verbally amended.
Section 7 was amended, on motion of Mr. Bateman, so
as to provide that the office of superintendent of labor and
agriculture shall continue for four years instead of eight
as reported by the committee.
The section was further amended by leaving it in the
power of the Legislature to continue the office at the ex-
piration of the four years.
Mr. Bateman gave notice that on the third reading of
the report he should move to strike out the entire article.
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