The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-12-20
Correspondence of the Day Book. !
NANsEMoNp. Dec. 15th IS

Editors Norfolk Day Book
l promised to write for your useful and
welcome little Day Book shsrt article on the
Fundum Fundisenius, or Oyster Question.
In view of where l write from, lie more
than tce,ty million bushels of oysters, the
property of the State of Virginia, and in
which at least fifteen thousand residents have
direct and immediate interest. They are
taken with tongs in small boats, and afford a
comfortable support to the families of thou
sands of those engaged in taking thsm though
the low price at which they are bought and
the fraud and cheating practised by the buy
ers, returns to the takers or catchers, who
have to labor so hard and lose SO many bad
days, but half what they ought to receive.
Vessels from the North load here, carrying
from two to four thousand baskets each, which
average about two bushels per basket, and the
price paid is about forty cents basket.
The cheating is done in various ways. The
Captain, or some man belonging to the vessel,
scores for four or six boats, all measuring at
the same time, in perfect hurry and haste.
Most of the oystermen keep no check on the
schooner and he has the whole play in his
own hands. He marks down say No. 4, 8,
8, 8, 2, 5, and the seller cries out, score to
A, another cries score to 6, and no person
knows whether he scores all or not, and when
the boat Is unloaded, he says SO many bushels
to No. 4, and if darkie has sold, you will
often hear him say, Massa Cap, 1 thought
had more nor that No, says the buyer, all
right, and off goes the darkie, grumbling
Another way they cheat, they commence with
a basket OF fair size, and soon that is miss
ing, and larger substituted, as they havebas-
kets of various sizes on board the vessel
Thus the hard earnings of these poor people
are flched from their pockets
But while thousands of our own people are
engaged in taking oysters, hundreds from
other States, in open violation of our laws
come here and bring with them boats and
men, taking the property of the State and
not leaving one dollar behind, nor do they
pay one cent of tax to support the Govern
ment. BY the law of Virginia, no person who
has not been resident of the State for eigh-
teen MONTHS can catch or take oysters in the
waters OF Virginia, under penalty of fine
OF three hundred dollars Nor can person
plant or be concerned with a nonresident i'm
der penalty of five hundred dollars
AS to the law respecting measures, it should
be SO amended as to prohibit measuring in
baskets, and require all oysters to be measured
in sealed tubs, not exceeding two bushels. 1t
should be OF equal width at bottom and top,
and required to be certain depth or width
diameter, SO that any person could easily
Letect an alteration or cheat in the size in the
measure.
Let fine be imposed for each measure sold,
to be paid both by the buyer and seller, to be
recovered forthwith, before any justice of the
peace having jurisdiction, and if not paid, i'm
prisoned until payment.
The fees OF constables executing warrants
should DO much larger than in present cases
the Magistrate or Mayor paid certain fee for
all cases tried before him.
Each man engaged in clustering should be
required to obtain from justice of the peace
a certificate that he has been twelve months a
resident OF the State, or that be was born in
Virginia. The mere oath of the party ought
not to be allowed, but other evidence required,
and the justice giving certificate should be
required to keep record of the evidence, for
which he should be paid, in each case, fee of
-. Any person should be allowed to inspect
said record, with the right to appeal to the
county court from the judgment of the justice
Each certificate should require the seal of the
county or corporation from which the certifi-
cate was given.
general inspector should be appointed by
the Governor, for each county or convenient
districts, designated in his commission, and out
OF the revenue arising from the tax which is
proposed to be imposed on oystermen and
those engaged in the trade, the inspector
should be paid
Ii oysters and oystermen are to be taxed, it
is but just that they should be protected in all
their rights, and the State D bound to see that
the oyster laws are strictly enforced and exc
cuted The inspector ought to have the right
to be informer, and resolve, like other persons,
one-half of all fines, &C.
ACCoMAcK.