Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-16

state IL NV excuse for asking q place IN
vour valuable paper for this communica-
| ton. In all that has been said upon TUG
subject no one has called especial aesea-
| ton to the indirect advantages and re.e-
nues the State derives from the oyster IN
dustry. and who seem simply to look no
| further than the actual amount OF dollars
collected under our oyster-iaws. L win
| first suggest that IL they examine the hu-
ditor's Office they will learn that large
surplus from our old oyster navy now TO
mains to the credit of the oyster fun1, OF
| at least has been turned into our Treasury.
They will find that from the years 1850 70
1883, inclusive. the receiptsfrom the oyster
tax orr disbursements were over s2Oo.Uou'
20 that the small deficit during the past
fiscal year should not alarm our frlendS
! from other sections of the State. Jhey
should also remember the many thOusands
OF dollars the state gets indirectly from the
industry. Some lands here that now
readily sell for from one 20 two hundred
dollars per acre. and scarcely worth nVe,
would not sell at the latter price torpufey
agricultural purposes should this industry
he destroyed or not be properly, protected.
FlourishiuC towns and villages have grown
up. whose sole success and prosperity de-
pend upon this business. Notably may
mention Chncoteague Island, whose
growth and prosperity IS scarcely sur,
passed by any other part OF the state, anu
certainly by no other part OF our county
also. Franklin CITY and Greenbackville.
two other notable instances; can aisO
call TO mind narrow strip Of land .ying be-
tween two rivers. not more tnan one lhlie
in width by two in length. IN when is
located fifteen stores Of general merchan-
| disc and some doing large business
whose entire trade is from tho oysterneh:
| which, of course. pay their proportion OF
I 20 H.
and two would suffice for the needs of the
inhabitants, who would or could remain.
These people know no otner occu.
patton. and necessity would ,oinpei
| them to leave the State and seek othef
fields whore they could gain. support Tor
their families. Many Of our farmers VINO
| do not live directly upon tIdewater ind
ready and renunerative market for oil they
grow, without the Intervention OK MIDDLE
men, freight charges, or commissions
among the oystermen, and, may add, IL
| Indirectly enhances The value OF thelr
farms also. The taxable values OF TINS
county would be largely destroyed shonid
this industry he injured, and the State
would lose many thousands Of dollars IN
revenue. II Is scarcely necessary TO men-
ton the boats and other necessary imple-
mcnts Of thor trade add directly TO the
revenues OF the State. The state should
| certainly enforce all her laws, even II III
costs something 50 10 do. and why, ask,
| should tho oystcr-laws be an exception!
And 10 enforce them there must be
Az OYSTER NAVY.
Have we not heard much recently about
the large criminal expenses OF the state;
In some counties, 1t Is said, the criminal
| expenses exceed the revenues. Would the
! State be excusabe in not enforcing nor
laws in those counties. even if it costs
something TO DO so. Collecting a tax Tor
the privilege of taking oysters ls OF recent
origin. while the desire to protect the ma
turiu beds dates back many years. Even SO
| long ago as January. 1911, alaw was enacted
IN regard TO the mode OF taking oysters,
| looking TO their protection, saying there
| shall not be used any drug, scoop, rake, or
other instrument except tOnes" But, as
| Senator Stubs well says, our people 90
! claim protection and admit the fact that
they must and Will pay taxes, and may
| add will gladly and willingly do so. Inc
present law If properly amended would not
| only be self-sustaniug. but would leave
| direct revenue for the State. ! have read
| much i'll past years upon the SUBJECT
| that has been written by Profes-
sor Brooks. Lieutenant Winslow,. and
other scientists about the natural his
tory, artificial propagation .oyster-farln-
| ing. &c.. and while / think If our laws
Il
cially oyster-farming and make It a safe III.
vestment for those who would engage IN
| il that it would add largely TO our reve-
nues and 10 the supply also, yet think we
| Of Iidcwater from daily observation and
ASSOCIATION with those directly engaged
| in the business must know something
! about the wants and necessities of Oys-
| termen and the laws that should regulate
| the same True, there is Il clause III our
| Constitution which says no tax shall be
! imposed on any Of the citizens OF this
| State for the privilege of catching Or
| taking oysters from their natural beds with
| tongs in the waters thereof" DC, which
has prevented proper tax being placed
upon that mode of taking oysters what
are known a. patent tonGs" are bow De-
| ing largely used by the dredgers. who have
heretofore paid the creator part OK the
revenue. and if some mode 10 not devised
at this session of our Legislature TO tax
them there will be q much larger deficit
| the next fiscal year. Probably the boats
could be taxed according to length.
ALL TAXES
should be paid annually and dredgers al
| lowed to take oysters with ordinary tongs
under their dredging-liccnse. In considera-
| ton of the large proportion they pay. The
number of inspectors should be largely re-
| dnced. and with IL the commission they re-
ceive. More protection could be given
which is greatly deslred-without any ad-
ditional expense, by reducing the amounts
now paid Tor protection. The penalty Tor
| Illegal dredging should be made simply
| fine collectable before q justice, would add
much 10 the revenue, instead OF being an
! expense 10 the State. as now. Inc tax
upon planting-grounds should be in
creased. The laws should be more strict
ly enforced, especially with those who
attempt 10 work without license. No
oysters under a certain size should
| be allowed TO be taken from the
natural beds, except perhaps, for one
month in the spring and then only for
planting purposes within the state. Other
suggestions could be made, but this article
| is already too long. Ono, however, | would
add Instead of our present board. whose
| duties upon other subjects, are many and
varied and who would gladly, [ imagine,
| like to be relieved from this one. None
| being from Tidewater, and OF course not
! familiar with the wants OF the oystermen
and the changes IN the laws that should be
made from time to time. A commission or
| board from 1idewater to manage the navy.
unpaid except actual expenses, could IN
| their reports to the Governor or General
! Assembly give many valuable suggestions
| as to such changes in the laws, rs they
! thought would add to the efficiency
| of the navy, increase the revenues
and prevent the depletion OF our
natural beds. A suggestion has been
made. or resolution offered l think,
| 10 rent the beds at one dollar per acre.
Such proposition is absurd to those ia;
miliar with the question. Many natural
beds here are worth hundreds of dollars
/ per acre and would readily be taken up
| by capitalists at that price. but in very
short time our oysters would be gone, the
State cease to receive revenue, and thou
sands of families driven from the State for
want Of employment. / hope Senator
J Stubs will continue to fight 1t out on his
! line il il takes oil winter. for much de-
ponds upon the wisdom with which the
| General Assembly deals with the question,
not alone 10 the State. but 10 our party;
All our oystermen here are white. and
while they are not Democrats for revenue
| il is a question of life and death with them
and their families, and any inlmicai legisla-
ton would certainly injure the party en-
acting it. Yours respectfully,
| FRANK FLETCHER.
| Acc0mdc county, Va.
] REVENUE AND llQUOR-L'CENSES.