Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-05

to 100000 bushels annually shipped from Chinco.
league alone. Also that these seaside oysters are the
best in the world-sometmes commanding 81 per
bushel in the Northern market Thus it is apparent
that the number of oysters exported from the waters
of Virginia is probably more than double that esma-
| ted by the committee.
But take the estimate of the commttee-6,000 900
bushels. At the rate of tax proposed, this would
yield revenue of 1900, 900.
Nor is this the only revenue proposed to be secured
by the protection Of oyaters. The renting Of the
planting grounds by an estimate even more moderate
than that just referred to- will be sufficient to defray
the entire expenses of the protection of oysters and
the collection of the tax thus leaving the entire nett
revenue of $4,000 to enrich the treasury. We do
not entertain doubt that this nett amount will ex.
ceed $5OO,OOO And our estimate s sustained by the
testimony
Mr. William H. Parker, Of Northampton testifes
as follows:
was lately informed by responsible gentleman,
that he would pay ths State of Virginia, and se-
cure the payment Of SOO,OOO annually, for the exclu'
sive of the oyster beds in Virginia. | believe
that company could we'll afford to pay net yearly
rent of s25OOON for the exclusive use for twenty years
of the oyster beds and planting grounds OF the State,
provided that they shall be legally protected, without
cost to the State.
Surely, no privileged company would pay for a
monopoly half the amount which the State se-
By udicious management OF its own interests.
Thecommittee accurately estimate the average price
of oysters sold out of the State at one dollar per
bushe-thus yielding gross price of $G,OOO,OO0 for
Virginia oysters. 1t s notorious that far the greater
amount lie shipped in the vessels of non.residens-
mostly Of Northern ship owners. When these yes.
sells purchase from citizens they pay average
price Of less than twenty cents per bushel. Thus
four.ffths of the price for which they afterwards
sold, is pocketsd by the Northern merchant; Nor,
is this all. Many Of the Northern shipnasters en-.
ploy their own labor in taking the oysters from the
rocks-and here there is total loss to our own citi.
zens. 1--WE certainly do not realize more than from
onesxh to fourth of the profits Of the trade car
ried outof the State which We estimate to be worth
at least Is, ,OOO 900"
The destruction OF the oyster beds undc the pre-
system of disser fare is of the serious mo.
ment. The evidence shows, that throughout our wa.
the natural oyster beds have been rendered much
lees productive than formerly and in many instsncsa
have been entirely destroyed. This 10 principally
owing TO the fact that the beds have been torn up by
dredges aad the oysters disturbed during the spawn.
ing sesson. But the oyster is productive, that an
oyster bed which ha. been almost exhausted will be
entirely restored by being left undsturbed for two
or three years.
But we are entering moro nnInutely into the con.
sideration Of the subject than time and space will
permit. We subjoin the following extracts from the
testimony elected by the committees:
testimony of Mr. Geo. Booker, Of EH.D1eh CITY.
II the natural beds we're properly protected, they
could furnish An immense sipply, sufficient TO meet
| any reasonable demand ior any length of time. In
all the lower parts OF the bay, the supply of oyster
rou the natural beds has greatly dimnished; also in
the rivers and in of the rivers the natural beds
have been destroyed. They have been destroyed in
consequences of their beng taken away at all seasonr
of the year in large quantities. II the taking away
prohibited during the spawning season from the
let day ot May 10 the lst day Of September.
hero would be greatly increased product Of oysters
! We now have laws prohibiting their being taken
away during the spawning season, but these laws
not regarded in my section. None OF the laws which
have been passed have protected the oysters because
they have not been executed If our oyster beds
not protected. they will be entirely destroyed very
soon. II proper laws are made, and properly eIecu
ted, oyster beds capable OF furnishing al
most indeinit, rupply-tbnks the law should prohi
BIT the the taking Of any oysters from the natural beds
and that if any sw ia passed this subject, it is
its execution than has been heretofore made, in re
fersnce 10 laws Of the same character
we secure to virginisns the whole benefit of the
oyster trade. the lands adjacent to the water courses
| would be enkauced in value. They assessed
higher in Consequence Of such adiacency but If the
whole trade o secured TO Virginia, those lands would
| be made still more valuable.
| Trstinaouy 6 DR.. Edcard Camm of Williamsburg.
"virginis has great advantage over Maryland in
the oyster trade lst-From her nesrness to the
cspes the common outlet to both States. 2d-A fair
wind dowr the bay is a head wind north on the coast
3d-The cargo of oysters being perishable article
the risk ofloss is largely increased by the distance it
has to be carried. 4th-The Virginia oysters would
be fresh w,en they arrived in market, and the Mary
length of the voyage 5lh-The Maryland oysters
coming from fresher waters, are not 30 hardy and il
carried away for the purpose of laying down In
ssller wstar. would sustain much greater loss and it
kept for consumption, will not be good as long as the
oysters from salter waters. From these and other
causes our oysters have reputation not enjoyed by
those from any other region. and must always COM
mand the best prices in the best market
IL have no question that if the planting of our oys
tiers can be confined to our planting grounds, induce.
ment would prevail to increase our population by
bringing the northern planter here. Our lands would
be largely increased In value, and demand would
be built lp here in short time for profitable employ
nent for all the labor that s engaged in the catching
OF oysters
{" By the trade in our waters being monopolized by
the northern men, our slave property ia much demo
razed and its security greatly dminished. Our
prohibitory laws are broken by carrying free negroes
10 the North, and bringing them back to Virginia
Many prudent men are from these causes deferred
from using their alave labor in catching oysters.
Northern men in this trade bring pretty much al
thei. supplies from the north, and spend nothing
here and they enjoy the profits of the trade without
paying any tax into our treasury-while the sdvsn
do y,ntfn thon
safe for the price OF the day labor taking into cons
deration the exposure, hardshps &C., incidental tt
the business. They get the cream, and we th'
SKINNED milk"
Testi=,9ay OF Mr.. William Lamb, Of Norfolk.
We regret very much that our limited space doe
not permit the insertion of all the valuable nforma
ton received from this gentleman, who has indeed
rivaled even Mr.. Paxton in the energy which he ba
displayed in collecting details concerning this sub
ject.
MIR Lamb estimates the annual export Of oyster
from the waters of Virginia alone at lS,OOU,OO
bushels. Fair Haven Baltimore and New Yori
each receive annually 100000 bushels from th'
Chesapeake and it's tributaries,
Mr.. John N. Brougb, Of Norfolk, estimates h
total annual e1penue Of maintaining four steamers
sufficiently manned and equipped for the enforce
pent of the law, at Sl7 $50.
Mr.. Henry Fitzgerald, of Norfolk, testi6es:
81 am satisfied from information, that in frequen
instances along the shore Of York river and Hamp
ton roads, many riparian owners collect rents o
planters along their fronts, in consideration of allow
ing them the privilege Of planting on their fronts:
lin reference to the profits Of oyster paokinl
North am satisfied that large profits have been re
allied. was acquainted with one individual in Bal
timure, who commenced the business 20 years ago
worth little nothing whose estate, at the time 0
his death, few years ago. was estimated to bs worth
100000 or $SO0,0u0.
81 suppose there are from forty TO fifty packing
houses in Baltimore, proftsbly employed. There l.
no reason why that business should not be secured tc
Virginia by proper legislation, and be equally profit
able if there any thing like equal facilities fol-
sending of oysters. baltimore Is Tar inferior in o."
sufficient planting waters convenient to Bsltmore
NJ