Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-31
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
What the State OF Virginia is Asked to DO
to Encourage II.


An effort is to be made at the extra SEES
sion of the Virginia Legislature this win
ter to secure the enactment of more liberal
laws for the encouragement of oyster
planting in this State. Discussing this
question, one OF the best known and ablest
Democrats of the Tidewater section said to
the Baltimore Sin correspondent:
FOR many years the oyster-grounds of
Virginia have exercised the minds of legls-
lators looking for available sources OF reve-
nue. for the State. But for the want of an
adequate understanding Of the subject
arising heretofore in no little measure
from conflict of opinions among the Tide
water people themselves, almost oil the
legislation in the matter has been ompiri-
cal, confused, and unproductlye OF the de-
sired results. The tune has now come.
however, when there is but little divergence
of view among the men of the various
branches Of the oyster business, and when q
judicious State policy for the maintenance
of the oyster industry IN Virginia is impa-
tienfly demanded by the 1idewater peo-
pie. The natural rocks which, few
years ago, the tongmen counted upon for
a goOdly number of bushels every fair day
in the season, are now so nearly naked that
but little can be made from them. Still
there are some oysters upon them yet, and
the tongman regards his immemorial
rights upon those rocks as inalienable.
And mot only is the tongman right, but
the best policy for the State, too, is TO be
found in prohibiting all planters from
taking in these natural rocks az
part of their plantlng-grounds. The
rocks must be cherished, not only for
the tongmans immediate use, but
with view, too. TO furnishing seed-oys-
tiers for the planters as far as they will go
in their present denuded condition. There
is little or no revenue TO be derived from
oysters by Virginia now. But well-con-
sidered law giving proper encouragement
to oyster planting in the waters of the
State would be guarantee OF handsome
fund from that source four or five years
hence. Virginia has tens of thousands OF
acres of ground fit for planting on which
no oysters are growing now which ought
to be covered with taxable values. Aud
it would be so if the planter could be
assured of tenure of possession long
enough to Justify him in making the in
vestmcnt. The present rental of twenty
five cents an acre 10 not especially burden
some to the man of money, but 1t IS
enough for him and more thar enough for
the poor man who is able TO go into the
planting business on very small scale
only, for when the cost of the seed-oysters,
the interest on the outlay from three to
five years, and the cost of watching the
grounds to prevent midnight robbery are
all taken into account II will be found that
it takes money in no inconsiderable guam
titles 10 engage in oyster-planting.
" The thing for the State 10 do is to en-
courage oyster culture, Just as IT encourages
agriculture. just as 1t encourages manu-
features. and to wait for the revenue until
there are products to be taxed Then the
State would find her oyster-grounds richly
remunerative. both to her own Treasury
and 10 thousands of her citizens individu-
ally. The oyster question is really very
simple. and it is to be hoped it will be in
telligently considered at the next meeting
of the Legislature. There is q restlessness.
dissatisfaction among the Tidewater
people that may become recalcitrant and
aggressive enough to disturb Demo-
cratic harmony in tho low country un-
less the oyster industry is well and wisely
looked into at the extra session OF the
Legislature next winter. There are six
teen counties directly interested in this
oyster question: