Oyster Wars Cannon On Display In Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A cannon from the Chesapeake Bay's oyster wars of the 1800s is on display at a museum in Annapolis.
The bay was the scene of sometimes violent clashes between police and watermen from Maryland, Virginia and other states seeking profit from the Chesapeake's once-rich oyster beds following the Civil War.
The cannon was used by the State Oyster Police Force that patrolled bay reefs and is believed to have been on the Leila, the original steam-powered patrol boat of Maryland's "Oyster Navy."
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquired the cannon last year and is partnering with the Annapolis Maritime Museum to exhibit it through June. DNR Secretary John Griffin says it signifies the state's commitment to protecting its natural resources.
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