Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-14
Cur oyster lndustry-A Word 90 the
General Assembly.

General Assembly.
TO the Editor of the Dispatch
With that display Of public spirit
which has always characterized the con-
duct of your valuable journal you were
kind enough to publish my last commit
nication upon the subject which heads
this article. The importance of the
interests involved leads me to second
venture upon your time and space.
Though such may possibly be leglti-
mate inference, / did not mean in my
last communication to be understood as
proposing to confine the labors of the
commission therein spoken Of to an in
vestigation of the subject Of planting
grounds. but my idea is that this COM
mission shall thoroughly investigate the
whole subject Of our oyster industry
its past condition, its present status,
and the means and possibilities of
growth and development in the future.
There is lamentable dearth of OIL
cial data lack of reliable statistical
and practical information on this sub
ject-that is absolutely remarkable and
indefensible when we consider its vast
importance. There is no State in this
Union which a bountlful Providence
has so richly endowed in its oyster re-
sources as Virginia, and yet the subject
receives but a passing notice in the
great census of the country. And this
is due simply to the undeveloped state
Of the industry and to lack Of sys-
tenn and organization in dealing with it.
Professor Ernest lngersoll in his
History of the Fisheries of the United
States" compiled for the tenth census,
speaking of the oyster industries of
Maryland and Virginia, says: THE
Chesapeake bay and its numerous salt
water tributaries contain valuable and
prolific oyster-beds, probably about
equally divided between the two States.
Notwithstanding the great Importance
and value Of the oyster-trade OF the
Chesapeake bay, it is a subject upon
which there has been no trustworthy
information, either as regards its extent,
the amount of capital invested, or the
past and present condition of the bust
ness. The Legislatures Of Maryland
and Virginia have at every SEES
sion for many years revised and
re.revised the laws upon this subject
for their respective States, but hare
Qlrays been content to work in the dark,
knowing nothing practically, and never
seeing the value Of obtaining full infor-
nation upon so important an industry.
There is, perhaps, no subject Of such
vital Importance to either State that is
so little understood" These words
come from source entitled to the fullest
credit. They are laden with the germs
of wisdom and practical sense, and
should impress our Legislature with the
importance of acting at once. The first
thing needed is light. Without light
there can be no intelligent legislation,
and there ought not to be any further
attempt at legislation until light is OBJ
tanned.
1t is not my purpose in this article
TO enter into any general criticism OF
our present oyster laws, but there is
one provision so utterly inconsistent
with the general policy of the State on
all other economic subjects that can
not forbear mentioning it {: BY the
laws of Virginia it is made an offence
punishable by fine and forfeiture for
any nonresident to plant or to be en-
gagged with resident in planting oysters
in the waters Of the State. Can any
sound reason be given for such pro-
vision as this? | can understand why
the nonresident shall be prohibited from
taking or catching oysters, but confess
to an utter inability to appreciate the
policy of such an inhibition as to plant
ing. 1t looks to me, Mr. Editor, like a
legislative permission TO every nom
resident to engage in the business OF
taking beyond our reach an element OF
wealth and prosperity. Under the law
the nonresident, as he does every sea.
son, may come here and purchase all
the seed.oysters that can be taken
from our beds; he may carry those
seed away and plant them in northern
waters. All this is right under the
law, but he shall not deposit
them in Virginia waters moro than
sixty days. Does not this restriction
operate TO the injury Of Virgins and to
the advantage only Of those northerr
States to whose waters the oysters are
transfsrreds Under this system ths
virsinia tonsman HIS for years been I
"bewer Of weed ~ for tbs northern
plsnter. Under Il tie northern plsntsl
n.y. y YirSinis sasers aeeat i2j ssau