Oyster License

Our current Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the 1890 Ocracoke Oyster War (click on the link below to read the article). As a result of the conflict, North Carolina established laws to promote and protect the oyster interests of the state. A number of islanders then purchased licenses to harvest oysters. This photo is of Earl O'Neal's grandfather's 1891 Individual Oyster License (a transcription follows).

Photo Courtesy of Earl O'Neal

Individual Oyster License
Number 316
Office of Clerk of Superior Court of Hyde County, Swan Quarter, N. Co, Nov. 10, 1891.

Isaac W. O'Neal of Ocracoke, county of Hyde, , having paid into this office the sum of two and 25/100 Dollars as required by Section (?) of Chapter 338, Laws of 1891, entitled "An Act to promote and protect the oyster interests of the State," license is hereby granted to him to catch or take oysters from the public oyster grounds of this State, for the period of twelve months next succeeding the first day of October 1891.

S. S. Mann
Clerk of Superior Court of Hyde County

Amount of License Fee: $2.00
Amount of Clerk's Fee: 25 cents

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is about the almost forgotten 1890 "Oyster Wars" that pitted islanders against outside business interests. You can read the article here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012115.htm.