Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-21

crclSc oil power ny IohSieSH' "'@e"' 80 -
rectly, for the construction OF a Pacific ha'i-
road.
TIE VIRGINIA OYSTER FDNDUM.
Chief Inspector Vim. II. Parker, appointed
bv the Governor under the act for the better
protection Of slave property, passed March 18th,
1856, has recently sent in to the Governor the
following report:
PEroRr OF CHIEF INSPECTOR WV. II. PARKER.
To the G0rernor Of The Commonwealth Of ar
Sir herewith make my report under the
act for the better protection OF slave property,
passed March the 18th, 1896: ,
The schr. Frances French, which was seized
BY me on the 9th Of May last, with a runaway,
negro on board, has been condemned and sold
by the Sheriff OF Isle Of Wight county Tor
81, $50, and that amount is row in the hands oil
said Sheriff. The slave was returned to the
owner by the Chief Inspector.
The Hannah lIavcns was seized in September
last, and made to pay steamboat hire and other
expenses, amounting to 500, incurred by the
Chief Inspector looking out FOR vessels that have
violated the law.
And, dceming it important to obtain statistics
of cargoes, under your instructions have OBJ
tanned all the information in the reach Of the
inspectors. The cargoes Of oysters, particu-
larly, were deemed important to be reported,
and beg leave to be more full in respect to
that trade than any other.
The inspection Of vessels laden with oys-
tiers embraced only Hampton Roads, York and
Rappahanuock rivers. There is no return OF
the inspection Of vessels laden with oysters
BY the Inspectors Of the Potomac river. Why
this has not been done is not yet explained to
the Chief Inspector. 1t will be observed that
the number of bushels Of oysters inspected at
Hampton Roads, York and Rappahannock ri
vers alone. for the last quarter, amounts to
440, 425 bushels and no vessels carrying oys-
tiers were inspected for Back and Pocosln rivers,
and the waters Of Mohjack bay, Piankatank,
Wvcomico and Potomac rivers. and the waters
of Tanyier and Pokomokc Sounds, Doc creek,
Deep creek, CheconeSseX. 0ccohannock, Nassau
adoX, HungarS, ChcrrystOGe, and the waters OF
the Atlantic coast. with the exception OF two
or three vessels that were inspected by accident,
being driven in reach Of inspection by stress OF
weather. All the vessels Of Hampton Roads,
York and Rappahannock rivers, laden with
oysters, were not inspected many unavoida-
bly, escaped inspection, onc-third Of them
nj lcast-say seventy vessels ut these points
were not inspected. Ny estimate is that
if all the vessels from Hampton Roads, York
and Rappahannock Rivers, alone had been in
spccted, the number of bushels Of oysters
reported, would have been AT least half as many
more, or 4i0,l25 bushels, added 220.2l2
amounting in all to G60, G3T1, for these three
points. And if the Oyster vessels for oil the
places named, had been inspected, and if the
law required all vessels sailing up the Chcsa-
peakc bav, as well rs those bound north Of the
Capes of Virginia, to be inspected, (which is
my reason for not inspecting all,) my estimate,
is that the number of bushels of Oysters taken
from the waters Of Virginia, and exported, for
the last quarter, would have been reported to
be about five tiIucs the above quantity, report
ed and estimated for the three points inspected.
In other words
Fer Hampton Roads, York and Ranpahannoek
rirers:
Reported, HUGO
Estimated escaped, aao,2ls
Total for those places. ..G69,So'
Add estimate Tor all other places. ...di.,3is
Total amount, O; bushels, .3.Go3.lS5
This is an estimate for October, November and
December last, which is not more than all av-
crags quarter. The quarter Of January, Feb
ruary and March, will probably exceed this
estimate. The quarter Of April, May and June
will probably be about two thirds of this csti-
mate. The quarter Of July, August and Sep
TENDER, none comparatively arc exported e1-
cept some in September for planting. My
whole estimate for the current year, cominen-
cling the lst of October, 1858, and ending the
Dn,I oc Sn,to,nhar go ID
October, November, December. 1858, 1906, lsj
January. February. March, ls59, .......%,@o3,l s5
April, May, june, 2,2ps,l2:
July, August. September. !Sj!,........ 100000
-
Ny estimate for the ear SIS tS2
Signed W.. 81. fakhEh.
This, at three cents, only, per bushel, would
place 1924, 254 &c in the State Treasury
And yet the last Legislature failed to relieve
the people from taxation by the enactment Of
such a law, though urged upon them by the
Executive. How long will the people of Nir-
GINA continue to groan under the weight Of
taxes, with such Il mine Of wealth not only un-
taxed, but monthly, weekly and daily pillaged
by non-rcsidcnts:
The inspection under which this informa-
ton was obtained. was instituted for the pro-
lection Of slave property. and at a very small
amount Of additional expense, $26+,25+ T6
might have been added to the revenues Of the
State. 1t is worse than useless at this moment
to gricve over the time wasted by the last Leg
stature in an Improbable debate upon both
State and extra State ,nattcrs-but when
the .'yoice of lamentation." worse even than
Rachers, reaches us from every quarter Of the
State, it is impossible to look back on the past
without regret.
The committee OH oysters, timat
''l2, 000, 900 bushels" of oysters to be taken
from, the waters of the Chesapeake bay every
year. one half of which were taken from the
waters OF Virginia; &c, 600, 0O0' bushels, and
this upon imperfect data. Chief inspector
Parker, actually Inspected re.sels from Hanp-
ton Roads, York and Rappahanock Rivers,
which contained +io,+25 bushels, and estima-
ted that vessels from these three places that
were not inspected carried away ''at least half
as many more" 22o,2l2 bushels, making for
only three beds 600, 63I bushels, which he esti-
mates to be aboat one-fhh Of the whole
amount or "iive times the above quantity
3,SO3, ls5 bushels for one quarter-r