Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-10
from the Richmond Tines.l
The Oyster Fundum-The Tax ON Svsters

Claims. ADJOURNED.
From the Richmond Tin,es.l
The Oyster Fundum-The Tax on Oysters.
As matter of exceeding interest to our friends in
the oyster producing section of the State we give
below copy OF the law passed at the recent session
of the Legislature, imposing a tax on oysters The
bill, while under discussion by the Legislature met
with the most determined opposition from the mem
bers from the oyster country who contended that il
was oppressive to the noor who lived by raising and
trading in oysters. We.think, however, it win be
commodities of whatever kind. will come at last out
OF the consumer. We feel Satisfied that those who
and the other towns of the State will pay the tax.
and not the oysterman on the bays, rivers. creeks
and coves.
BILL IMPOSING TAX ON OYSTERS
l. BE It enacted tg the General Assembly, That il
any creek, cove inlet not exceeding one hundred
yards in breadth at its mouth, makes into the land
or lands the owner owners or other lawful occu-
pant occupants, shall have the exclusive right to
use said creek. cove inlet for depositing, planting
bedding and sowing of oysters and other shell-fish
although such creek, cove or inlet may not be in
cluded in the lines of any patent.
any person who shall take any oysters or other
with the first and second sections of this act or shall
carry or attempt to carry the same away, without
be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof
shall be confined in the Penitentiary for term not
less than three moro than five years at the dis
9retOn of the jury.
3. Any person depositing, planting bedding or SOW
ing oysters for the purpose of sale, and selling the
amount of his sales Of the previous year. ending
the 1st day Of February and he shall give in to the
assessor Of his district the amount of his said gross
sales OF the previous year. when and in the same
manner he gives in list of his other taxable proper
y and the same shall be entered by the assessor upon
his books in separate column and the said tax shall
be collected by the sheriff or collector of the county
or corporation as other taxes are collected. Any
son failing to comply with the provisions of this
ton shall be fined not less than one hundred nor
more than FIVE hundred dollar.
4. Every person who takes or catches oysters for
Shnl nhf e
the county court of his county in the mode prescrb
ed in the wentyfth section of chapter one hundred
and one of the Code, edition of 1867 amended
and re-enscted by the act entitled act amending
sections q, % 23 Is, 2 go 81, 80 and Al of chapter
hundred and one of the Code, (edition of 1861
ing Of oysters iron obtaining said license he s6all
present the same to of the inspectors of the
ty appointed under section thirty of said act, who
shall endorse and number the license and shall mum
ber the boat or canoe belonging to or used by the
person obtaining the license, in accordance with the
5. Every person obtaining such license shall pay to
the l9speetor to whom ne presents his license tax of
the license until said tax is paid.
D. II any person who takes or catches oysters with
out license obtained and endorsed as prescribed in
hundred dollars.
I. Every captain or officer of vessel which shall
be employed in carrying oysters taken in the waters
OF Virginia, shall obtain from an inspector license
for which he shall pay to said inspector tax of
VAL ~
measure, according to the custom-house enrolment
or icense and it shall be the duty of every such
tain or officer to have such license framed and SO set
or placed upon the quarter deck or pinnacle of his
vessel as to be exposed to the full view of every per-
son who may board said vessel; which license shall
authorize such vessel to carry away oysters for one
year. Every captain or other officer of vessel who
shall lead or carry away oysters IN his vessel without
such license, shall pay fine of not less than five
hundred nor more than two thousand dollars for each
offence.
s. Every inspector who is hereby authorized to col
lant the taxes herein DrOVidpd shall
ceeding to perform the duties of his Office execute to
the Con, nor Yea bond bone with sufficient security
five thousand dollars, as tho court by which be is ap-
pointed shall prescribe, with condition faithfully to
perform the duties OF his Office and to pay into the
treasury before the 18th day of the months of 0cto
ber, February and June of each year. all taxes re-
eeived by him under this act, Said bond shall be
taken before the county court of his county, and when
approved BY tho court shall be forwarded to the
Auditor of Public Accounts by the clerk of the
court.
9. The said inspectors shall keep regular account
OF all licenses granted by the clerk Of the county
court and presented to him, and of all licenses
granted by him, and the taxes received by him, and
shall make return thereof, oath, to the Auditor
of Public Accounts in the months of October Feb
taxes into the treasury before the fifteenth day
of said months, respectively; and the amount of
the taxes paid in by the time prescribed the Auditor
shall allow to him compensation of ten per centum
but if not paid in until after that day, he shall be
shall be allowed not more than five per centum upon
the amount, IN the discretion OF the Auditor.
10. The clerk of the court shall return to the Audi
tor, by the first day of the months of October Feb
ruary and June, statement of the licenses granted
by the court and the names of the persons to whom
granted
II. The provisions of chapter one hundred and one
of the Code edition Of 1900, amended by the act
entitled Act amending sections p, q, %. Is, 81
50, 32 50. 4I, chapter one hundred and one Ct the
Code leditl9n OF Io5q), concerning the taking and
piled to the officers and other persons mentioned in
this act so far as the same are not inconsistent with
this act. And the remedies on behalfof the common
wealth. provided in the act entitled Act for the
assessment OF persons property incomes and salaries
passed February l5 1866 and of the act entitled
Act amending the thirty eighth chapter of the Code
edition of 1861 passed February l3, 1866 shall be
extended to this ac and for the failure of any officer
which special penalty provided in this act such
officer or person shall be liable to pay fine of not
less than one hundred nor more than one thousand
dollars.
II. Toenable the inspectors to carry into effect the
provisions of this act, he attach the vessel and
appurtenances of any captain officer failing re-
tusng to obtain the license, and pay the tax herein
provided for and, in the execution of such attach
ment, the said inspector may summon the power of
the county and is hereby invested with all the power
and duties of sheriff for the collection of other taxes
l3. This act shall be in force from its passage.
SEARCHING FOR MISSING EXPRESS SAFE.-The
steamer W. R. Carter, at the time of her explosion
had on board an express safe, which has not since
been recovered The following taken from the Cairo
Democrat will show how utterly impossible it is to
pany:
They learned that the wreck was located at Villa
Vista Landing, Louisiana, and proceeded to that
place, and examined the bottom with grapple and
rods The diver then went down in armOr. the
depth of water ranging from five to forty feet, but
found nothing of the wreck. News received that
evening that led them to believe that the wreck had
foated down to Omega Landing, fifteen miles below,
to whi, place they proceeded the following day.
After diligent search they became satisfied that
they were misin form ed, and proceeded to Pawpaw
Island eight miles below where their search resulted
as before. Determined to succeed, if such a thing
possible, they returned to Villa Vista and COM
menced the search again with grapple and rods and
soon found that there was something there besides
mud. The diver was sent down, found the wreck
about one hundred yards from the Louisiana shore,
in sixty-fve feet of water. On the forward deck
were found plows scrap rOn and miscellaneous stuff.
The diver went aft to where the safe was supposed
be. but found log chains and other Rubbish and the
mud from five to six feet deep in The hold The diver
worked nearly three days. the water the last day
being eighty feet deep. without finding the object OF
the search. Captain Dugan and the agent of The
Express company having become satisfied that, owing
to the of mud and rubbish and the high state
of water it would be impossible to find the safe the
undertaking was abandoned, and the underwater
came back to Cairo.