Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-06

Total extent Of the trade. ........ I, OOu,UOI
1.-The evidence would show that a much larger
quantity is taken from Virginia; but | have as
surned that a portion Of what is known North
as Virginia oysters arc taken from Maryland
Thus, as to the New York trade, the estimates
of three we'll informed gentlemen Of that city,
make the trade in Virginia oysters at not lcs'
than 1000, 900, whilst | estimate it 5000, 0oC
! of bushels-allowing that one-fourth Of what
are termed Virginia oysters come from Mary
land. The Governor estimates the Virginia
trade at about a. 600, 900 bushels per mum.
| Mr.. Lambs estimate is IS, 900, 600, and is based
upon the hypothesis that Maryland furnishes
but a small portion of the oysters taken from
the Chesapeake.
This oyster fundum belongs to Virginia;
we furnish, as it is said, 5000 poor tongers tc
work it Virginia furnishes the land and the
labor; she gets no rent, and the laborers whom
she supplies earn but q miserable living, as
! their delegates assert, whilst the Yankees
realize annual profits Of millions Of dollars.
ask the opponents Of this bill if there is moi
some legislation needed"
DR.. Camm said:
"My opinion is that our people may be en-
couraged in the planting Of oysters, by a law
prohibitory of their being carried out of thu
State for the purpose Of planting, and that theii
interests would be so enhanced by such /:
measure, as to enable them to pay a reasonable
tax for planting grounds.
by prohibiting the expectation of oyster:
from the natural beds, from about the Isl
March to LIST September, the planting NORTH
would be cut short, and the oysters which have
to BIZ planted there in sone ten feet water, and
which are obliged to be put in market by Is,
January, because the cold water would then
DESTROY them, and which Mt that period keeT
our planted oysters out Of the market, would
be replaced BY our planted oysters and give
our oyster planters an addition of some three
months in the year for selling.
'.By the trade in our waters being monOpo'
lized by the Northern men, our slave property
is much delnoralized, and its security greatly
diminished. Our prohibitory laws are broken
by carrying free negroes to the North, and
bringing them back to Virginia. Many pru'
dent men are from these causes deferred from
using their slaves in catching oysters
Mr.. Pratt said:
.sThe oysters planted at the North i'll the
spring are generally taken up by the following
Christmas. This Northern planting interferes
with the Virginia planter, by depriving him Of
the business and profits Of planting to the ex-
tent of that business at the North. \ restric.
ton by law Of this Northern planting from the
waters of Virginia, would protect the natural
beds, and secure to Virginia the entire labor
and profits of the planting of her oysters"
This is but a small portion Of the evidence;
but compare even that with the facts actually
ascertaincd by the subjoined report.
REPORT
Of oysters actually in.pected, and q aEimdtes 81
quantity ofoystrs carried ont oftht STATE. az ntarGs
can be asce,tdined u9Gr the lap for the better pro
lection Of sdrs property, for the quarter ending
slit March, 4. d., 1859.
| refer to my last rcpor: for partial and imperfect
returns, with which to compare tho prcsen. returns,
which are still very partial and imperfect, but still
much fuller md more accurate than the former re-
turns. BY my last report, the number Of "hampers,"
improperly called bushels returned rs actually
inspected, WINS in round numbers 44e,t2j hampers,
or bushel and q half per hamper, making 6GU,e So
bushels. Aud | desire to correct my last report by
the conversion OF hampers into bushels, which will,
of course, alter my previous estimate by one-third:
In round numbers ] had estimated the number of
bushels at about 5000, 900. 1t should have been
1000, 900 Of hampers, or l3,50O,oW bushels per an
mum, an taken md carried away. 1t now appears
tint This estimate, even thus increased, was inr be-
low the probable quantity OF oysters taken aud car
rcd ont Of the Commonwealth per annuin.
A hamper is n large basket made in a form TO hold
the largest quantity for tho appearance OF the inca
sure. At the beginning Of the trade tiiey, were, per-
haps, intended to measure about a full bns!iei. They
have been increase by custom 10 run IN measure from
III TO 9 bushcl, and the gain IN the measure IS one
Of the tricks of the tmde. | have rated the hampers
in the report at IN bushels only, which Is actually
this rate Of the hamper for this quarter, the report OF
the oysters actually inspected is