Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-24
OYSEESS.
A letter in Reference TO the Dredge
MATHEWS COURTHOUSE, NA.,I
1000 p

MATHEWS COURTHOUSE, VA,
February 7, 1883.
lion. ,Ja,acs y. Stubds, Esq, Scnatc Of
Virginia:
Dear Sir.-The Dispafch containing
favorable report Of committee upon pro-
posed change i'll the dredge law and Cap
tain Seth Fosters testimony in regard to
same was duly received. We were more
than gratiGed with your communication
upon the subject, and / hasten to send
Won petition to lay before the Leglsla-
turc with full statement Of facts in sup
port OF same.
II the Legislature desire information it
would be well to examine practical oys-
termen. We would much prefer that a
committee be appointed to visit our coun-
" and ascertain the tucts in the case.
Captain Fosterst that the dredgers,
after leaving the Potomac, catchnothing.
This may be true, but why? They have
completely broken up every rock IN the
BAY. except where the State has by law
extended protection. Remove the pro-
lection, and in few months there viii
be no oysters in the bay for dredger or
tongman. 4 space six by four miles will
cover the beds in front of this island.
which they now seek to have thrown
open to them. 4 feet of $50 or 20Ovc
sells would at once pounce down upon
this little area. Most OF these would, az
los heretofore been the case, be Mary
land boats, manned by foreigners white
and co.orcd said boats under the
pseudo ownership OF parties in this
state. The crews of these boats
have been reckless, lawlcss men. |
sneak from experience, and it is no con-
lecture to say that in the future they
would be the same. Heretofore when
dredging was permitted II was dangerous
TO walk upon the shore of the island.
Parties have been fired upon from these
vessels. Our wives and daughters were
afraid to travel upon the island without
escort, We could keep TO fences, no
vegetables in our gardens, no poultry IN
our varls-uothing was safe save under
lock and key. Lyen the tongmen's boats
were often stolen and carried off by the
crews. who were SO badly treated upon
tie drcdee- boats that when ashore they
would steal our boats to make their es-
cape il.
Around or about Milford Haven there
il invested in the oyster and fish bust
ness about so, 900. This in many cases
represents the whole property Of those
engaged in the business.
The pounds about this island are
worth about $1,000. They are gene
rally bought upon credit, to be paid for
ont Of the catch OF fish, and are owned
ia shares Of from 500 to 800. This
property. unless speedily removed after
the passage of the proposed law, would
be totally destroyed by the reckless and
viDdictive set upon the dredgcs-they
would soon tear them to pieces by sail
ing over them. 1t is not safe, even, for
tonqmen 10 vorl; where they are
working with their dredges, as they
take charge of tue whole rock and seem
10 delight il forcing the tongmen
TO move OF be run over. Our county is
so nearly surrounded by the bay and
rivers upon It's boundaries and so in
dented by creeks and hnrbors that You
cannot Get more than a mile and Il half
from salt water.
We have most Of us been raised in
the county few have removed here
from other places. Our occupation has
been controlled, / may say, by orr situa-
ton. Our county, especially about the
water courses, is thickly settled. A
large part of our inhabitants look mainly
to the water for their support. We do
not raise enough upon Our land for the
support OF our people. Many have their
all invested in boats or nets. Some own
their small hOmesteads. Take from us
the advantages which have given rise to
the conditions under which we live, and
not only are our boats and nets rem
dercd valueless, but even our homes,
which many of us would be compelled to
leave. wond become worthless for want
oil purchasers, as our county could not
support its present population Ii de-
priyed OF the advantages which have
heretofore enabled it TO do 50.
The expense OF the police boat can,
think, be easily and protitably reduced
by reducing the captains pay to SO per
month and abolishing the Offices OF Sc
cond mate and second engineer. Navi-
gators are not required upon any Of the
boats upon Chesapeake bay except upon
this hide tug of ours | have made
many inquiries of captains upon steamers
and sailing vessels. Repeal the clause
in this law requiring navigator as cap
tain, and an equally as good if not bet
ter officer can be had Tor the pay stated
So per month.
accompanying this you will please
find petition signed by every man IN
NY neighborhood that have been able
to see in the short time [ have had to
work. Many of them have called upon
me personally 10 sign it. 50 great an IN
terest DO they feel in this matter.
would have been glad to have had
tine to have visited other parts of the
county, as l am confident / could have
swelled the number Of signers TO a thou
sand against the dredgers and IN favor OF
The pounds.
You will please excuse this long COM
/ could not condense my
matter into less space.
Very respectfully yours,
II. b. +. HUDGws.
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