The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-16
Oysters.

Virginia is hard pressed, and yet she Is
one Of the richest OF Commonwealtbs in her
resources. She wants revenue, and she
isimmense, and should be valuable as tri-
butary to the public treasury. The she'll
fish Of Virginia waters enter largely into
commerce, and are found IN every market.
Increase and commerce Of all sorts are re-
quired to pay tribute to the Commonwealth,
and reason and justice should require OF
this oyster trade its share Of contribution to
meet the public Indebtedness. The oyster
beds are chiefly the property Of the Com
monwealth, and the claim upon them
as sources Of public revenue is stronger
than upon any other source. It Is out OF
all reason and propriety that an article OF
commerce which contributes so much to
che sustenance and luxury OF man should
pay hardly anything to the support Of gov
eminent. 1t is surprising to see the spirit
Of resistance that shows itself whenever 1t
lie proposed to tax oysters. Communities
who are providentially blessed with such
stores Of wealth and luxury should by no
means exhibit such want of public spirit.
All persons who have reflected upon the
subject Of taxing oysters must be aware OF
the difficulty attending the levying and COY
lecting such o tax. The late HENRY A.
WISE, who was raised in the finest oyster
district in the world, brought to tho notice
Of the Commonwealth the vast wealth it
possessed in Its oyster-beds, and, unbiased
By any sectional narrowness, he proclaimed
that the oyster iundum should contribute
literally to the public treasury. His ex-
ample was one that deserved the general
approval Of bis own peculiar fellow-citi-
zens.
The State approved the views OF Governor
WISE, and from time to time has essayed to
extract some revenue out OF the oyster-beds,
but with poor success. The very source
seemed, like the oyster, to have thefacility OF
"shutting up" Nevertheless, the oyster is
universal food, and people have to pay high
for 1t In proportion to their inordinate love
for it. And Is there no public revenue In
the oyster5
Yesterdays EFhig contained letter from
citizen "hard by" the oyster-beds to q
feb commissioner, which, it seemed to US,
gave to the public the end Of the thread
which may lead through the labarynthine
troubles that obstruct the efforts to reach the
oyster with the tax. This writer says:
"The true course for the State to pursue
is TO give to the owners Of the lands all the
rights and privileges OF the oyster-beds and
planting-grounds in their front, make them
responsible f6r the taxes, aud allow them to.
sub-let the privilege and collect the taxes
in every neighborhood on every river. The
deep-water oyster-grounds could be made
common by an ordinary tax.
We profess to little knowledge on the pc
culiar question OF taxing oysters. But this
suggestion Of extending the rights Of land
owners over the oyster-beds has very prac-
sical appearance. II the State could thus
combine all residents upon the shores Of
oyster-bearing waters as her especial friends
70 helpin enforcing the laws with the, efas
cheney which a personal interest would en-
sure, she would accomplish very decided
good for herself. Thus iar,the Common
wealth hes not been able TO enlist her citi-
Gems by any arrangement that would en-
sure their cooperation. II we are not en-
tircly wrong the suggestion above made
gives the key to the blishment OF this
harmony between the State and the citizen.
The hard. laboring citizen of the interior
pays upon his increase, and Tho pontane-
Gus wealth Of the waters should pay tribute
also for the support Of the goYernnentl
which secures the privilege Of enjoying an
PRODUCTIONS, whether Of land or water, to |
those who consume them. 1t Is easier tol