Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-07
s EECH Z NJ. GRESHAM.

the oiycf WdiiGmssvrs ond County Of York. to poet
pOHe indehaeiy, the Blu for the p,oieeisast Oysters
IA tAe teatersof Lancaster Couaty.
Mr.. GRESHAM said an, lit le surprised Mr. Speak.
err aths quarter from which this and think
when shall have given 10 the Houe short history OF the
legislation o the ST for the protection Oysters within
its boundaries and particularly several counties, aud
rous and other courses belonging the State
that the House will be equally surprised the motion which
Ia. been submitted by the gentleman from Williamsburg.
Mr. Gresham then proceeded that the protection
OF Oysters had long been a subject of legislation by the
State but that m about the 1884 that legislation had
been confined Ia prohibiting the Ut them
OF the Commonwealth, and the destruction OF them within
Its limits, by prohibiting the taking of with improper
instruments and the burning and destroying OF them by
other means For this purpose passed FebrusTy the
18th, 1919, 2nd Revised Code pages 3lI 35 prevent
the burning and destroying Oysters and
ton OF hem out OF the Commonwealth. This seems to
nave been thought sufficient protection this interest," till
the 1884, in winch year. the 9th March.
passed, supplement the Revised Code pages 5OI sos
which seems to have changed. in important parcu
lars the policy OF the State in Its legislation this subjects
by that nonresidents prohibited catching Oys
tiers any where m the Commonwealth which be-
fore 70 have been prohibited and another important change
also IN the legislation this subject have been
introduced by that Previous that te far
we can ascertain by laws ia force, the Legislation
OF the State this subject. had been general ctng
alike and equally part OF the State; by this be-
came TO extent local in its character for while
al OF the provisions Of that general IN their appca
non the ith section vt local. applying only {, the York
River and its branches, and the Severn and Ware Rivers
BY this section all persons. citizens well others,
prohibited from catching Oysters those Rivers. between
the inst day May the rst day September each
year. except tor the use OF their own families thus draw
ing tighter the rens far those concerned and
prohibiting what had been done before the taking
Oysters tor sale TO citizens OF the State within the prohibit
cd period IN each This have been the
first partial local legislation subject but il was not
long before the same or similar protection claimed for
and granted 10, the Oysters other waters in other
parts ot the State. On the 18th of March. 1854 an act
passed prohibiting person fn'm catching Oysters ,x
ccp for his or her and the his her am
~, IN North River East River any Of the waters OF
Mockack Bay, any time between the first day Of May
and the first day OF September in each year From this
time, sir the policy OF the State. in legislation on til,
subject, have been entirely changed From that
period down the present general law upon tire subject
has been passed by the legislature; upon this
Ioct he found upon Statute Book the introduc
non of this species ct cessation down the present time.
i local m Its character, and confined particular
Rlyc', Creek other water, 10 particular County
On the 10th ut March, 1896, act passed prohibiting
the taking Of oysters between the first day of Nav and the
first S,picmb each year, within the waters of Eliza
beth nvc o' IT. branches m the county Of Norfolk. the
ut the Rapplhannock, the Panketank the North
and East rivers the Ut Milford Haven Horn ar-
the Nomin, Mach due aud Yeocomico rvers or any
OF the cccek tnbuary thereto. This introduces new
subject ct legislation also which before
Statute Boo, prohibits the taxing Of oysters by
all persons all seasons, from the ut Matthews
and MddeseN, tor the purpose Of uanspauung them. Up
10 this time. Nr Speaker, nothing found oyster
legislation ct the State relative 10 the ansplan,ng oys
ters; but from this tmc SIR, this becomes veTy prom.
feature IN the legislation uPon this subject To pur.
sue the history ui the legislation this subject and
show local and partial character: On the 2S,h March
1887, passed prohibiting non.residents from
cat hing oysters erradns IN the of Virginia y
ing between the eastern side OF Accomac and Nothamp
counties and OF Islands within the jurisdiction
Of this STATE extending from the northern point Of Accomac
county to Cape Charles. Two days afterwards sir on the
2h OF March, 1887 act passed prohibiting all persons
whatsoever from taNng oysters Except in Quantities not
exceeding two bushels day 'r any family for the
Use o ms ismly, or for the purpose If planted from
49,. .T.r z.FNr.
thereof, between the May and the first OF October m
any year The same = si- makes the prohibited months
IA the county IT " 5er.sai from the first 81 Apri 10
Tue hst OF Octobt i the 9th section Of extends IT.
prov slers, luu ma>es applicable waters Of ILL
tabei1 rvcr AMI its branches Norfolk county TO Severn
aud Ware uVe-s IA Gloucescr, and To- North in Glu
ctscer and Mathews b. this act, s which is also local
aud pnral IN us character It will be per we'd the
again frightened; no restriction had been eyousIy put
upon the quar- uue- Jhat might he by any indiy du
tor he use OF s family: lgt hy his act SIR are al
lowed 70 ia.c bIsh div for this or for
any other pu pJse, from the cited. But TO pro-
coed, ~, ie net O February the 5h 1855 extends the
v prevent destruction oysters
and 'eaPns IN Aeeonae and Northampton the
csuuue- OF NaussmOnd and NOrtoA aud prohibits the
taxing OF oysters at any tim, from he of Ware
Severn North and Ndnsempnd rivers, and their ubusries
Tor the purpose being planted any thr water or river
Another &c; passed tue day, SIR which Giends the
provisions OF this the W wat. r. of A. comac
and Northampton. On the 1,h o April 1888, an act was
passed which prohibits the ing Of oysters all times by
ali persons, from ANY Of the IT Norfolk county, ff
the purp3sH Of being Iansptned deposited any other
"ates OF T'cTs. On the 9th VI hpr, 1889, act
passed, which extends all the prohluons penalues &
OF tue act OF harcn the 27Ih lo3 the wat rs Il James
and Warwick rivers IN the comfy Wirwic< and to all
the waters IN the unes OF Elizabeth Ciy and Warwick
AID prohiDs the taking Of oysters 10y any pers H. at any
time, from tin wae's rivers aud creeks m the county of
Isle u Wight tor ne purpose OF being tanspanled in the
waters Of any other The same act sir prevents
the catching and carrying away OF oysters from the Pianke
snN yeT during tie spr ng and summer months except
10 the consumption OF those persons residing the said
On the 10Th o March, 1919 sr an act was pass
cd which allows the taking OF Oyser- by the
sidcn aud Inhabitants OF Matthews aud Middesex eoun.
ties, IN the months vt April, May, and September of
course excluding oil other persons and the inhabitants
themselves, except IN those months The next Get pass
ed on the subject sir, was the 10th # March, 1912
which prohibits Tor and during period of FIVE years the
taxing c-rynE away OF OYSTER by all pes ms, from
inc waters ana jurisdiction OF NoriulmpiOn county, and
from Wilson's Creek Gouces cr county, except for the
cpnsump ION u the inhabitants OF those counties This
act M mas since been suspended and sub-elIen y repeal
ed, so Tar % relates NoItmpou county, but u str in
force II relates Gloucester county The next
act M order this sIbect -r, p1. ed on the 25h
OF March SAB which prohibits the taxing and carrying
ui Oysters from their beds within the wa
iefs % North River and Its braucbe n greatcr quan l.
ties than 80 bushels IN days bat allows persons y
ing on said Ser and it, bunches, who engaged IN plant
ing Oysters 10 lake them IN sGch quantities for that pur
pose as they may desire Two days afterwards SIR ON the
9th OF March, passed On this subject one of
which allows the inhab nt- of AccDmac county to take
aad carry away oysters n their vessels for three years
tom The waters Of said county and vi cOure prohibits al
other persons The other act passed ON that day pro
hibis tue catching Of Oysters Tor uln-p,aton from the
waters Of james and NanscnJnd uver. between the fir
OF May and the first Of November In any year In the
year lo4 SIR there have been no legislation on
this subject except repeating one heretofore mention
ed, relative 90 Northampton county. Bur IN the year
o45 there pa Sod on this subject two Of
them the lin OF February ~ at year. ono of which
prob bits OIL persons from tax ng and carving aWny Oy
ter. from Na-sawadd Creek, ~ Northampton county
the purpose OF ranspantug them any other water and
the other pgub T. oil persons from taking Oysters from the
waters # WostmOreaud and N"uiumb, foud counties 1,
be uansp nntcd u any other The next ac in order
Of time, mr., on this subject passed February the IIrh
lsI', which pr nbits oil persons U.her han citizens II
Elizabeth CRY, Warwick Jamos & 49, York and " arns
burg from taking Oyt-fs within 10 isicton Of th &c
counties. IN the mDuh of MAY IN every year. And e.
wind up hc history, II act - been pis.ed az pre-
sent session. ap icabe alone O. the county Of Accomac
From The Drsg ug history II the legislation of the Sc
on this subject Mr. Speaker. a. w he perceived that NJ