Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26

everything taxable was taxed, as we'll as
othor things that the Court OF Appeals
had TO declare not taxable, the re-
cult was not satisfactory, and 30 We con.
tinued realizing q lessening revenue as
the natural oysters became scarcer
and the increasing age OF the steam
ers made their maintenance more
expensive until 1874, when the Auditor
was ordered 20 sell three OF the steam
ers. and another law for the preserva-
ton of oysters and to obtain revenue,
etc, was passed. This law, said the
Auditor in 1876, after q fair trial OF
over thirteen months has yielded no
revenue to the State. Il
hardly think, he continues, the law as
ii now stands worth retaining. Ana so
we went on changing the law when II
appeared defective, but oil the wlile re-
ceiving O decreasing revenue, as 'iie
natural rocks were being depleted, until
We are now confronted with adehclehcy'
ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THE NATURAL
ROCKS A FAILURE.
"Those who are not familiar with the
oyster industry might suppose that
policy could vet be adopted that wouid
restore the natural oyster-rocks TO their
former fertile condition. and well-mean-
ing efforts may be attempted IN this d.
rection, but the history OF these Spots
show that this restoration has never
taken place, either, on bur own shores
OF those Of the Old World. The great
shell-piles that extend at intervals
along the coast of Maine ana on
down 10 Cape Cod are silent, but none
the less reliable witnesses of the once
great but now extinct chain OF natural
ovster-beds that formerly lined this part
OF the Atlantic coast The sonth coast
of Massachusetts IN colonial days was
famous for the abundance OF Its naturai
oysters Along the coast OF Rhode
Island so abundant were the oysters
that az late as 1884 the General Assem-
bly, found it necessary to pass an
act TO forbid their being burned lor
lime. an example our own General AS
sembly was obliged to follow IN 1872
by tho passage OF similar act. Inc
natural beds of Connecticut, the most
favored OF oil the oyster growing states
bordering on Long Island sound, had
gradually dwindled until In 1881 it was
reported that the whole area OF natural
oyster-rock in that State was about 0,OVo
acres. The early colonial Literature OF
New Amsterdam tells us that so plenu-
ful were the natural oysters in New
York bay that q market could not
bo found for them, everybody be-
ing able to supply themselves
without charge Like Virginia, New
York passed protective laws, but
these we're of little avail and by 1880
the natural oysters had gradually given
ont. New Jersey and Delaware had a
like experience. Maryland, the imperial
oyster State, is feeling keenly the diml-
mutton of her once bountiful stores. A
few wears ago the Maryland Oyster
Commission reported TO the Legislature,
as the result Of careful examinations
admitting OF no question. that
the Maryland beds had fallen OIL
over 80 per cent. in three years A re-
port that justified the widespread belief
that the natural oyster beds OF the state
were in imminent danger OF complete
destruction. In like manner the records
of the foreign oyster fisheries show, the
destructive effect of excessive fishing
along the coasts OF England. Ireland.
and France as well as along the coast
of Holland. SAID Professor q. Brown
Goode, the head Of the United
States Fish Commission, at the Inter
national Fisheries Exhibition In Lon
don. where he was sent to represent our
fishing interests, THE preservation OF
the oyster-beds is matter of vital I'M
portance to the United States, for oyster
fishing unsupported by oyster-culture
will within a short period destroy the EN-
ployment of tens of thousands and the
cheap and favorite food Of tens OF NIL
lions OF our people
FISHERMEN ENCOURAGED.
Gan maritime nations have been soli-
citous for the success OF their food-fish-
cries. both for the employment they
gave and the food they furnished the
people, and when the ocean withheld its
bouptiful stores We find the principal
Governments coming to the aid of the
baflied fishermen to encourage them to
continue their quest. Between lo4l and
1850 the French Government paid its
fishermen $3.50, 900 year IN bountles.
England began the payment OF fishing
bounties the very year that we declared
our independence of her. and the United
States from 1892 up to the breaking out
of the war between the States paid boun-
ties TO its fishermen In one form or an
other.
THE DEPLETION OF OUR NATURAL ROCKS.
"The area Of natural rock within the
tidal James has been the most prolific
of any bottom within the jurisdiction
of the State, but the natural oysters
upon it have become so scarce that the
price of seed-oysters there has risen 300
per cent. above that of five years ago,
and as the seed could not reach this
6pure in the James withcut an equal
scarcity in tho other rivers OF the state,
this advance in price Is as reliable an
indication Of the present condi-
ton Of our natural oyster beds as any
that I could give. Already our packers
are going elsewhere to prosecute their
calling At nearly every point in Nir-
ginia where oysters have been packed IN
any quantity, and where the main re-
lance was upon the natural oysters, with
the exception of the city of Norfolk,
the industry has ceased to exist
| Norfolk was only able to hold hel
trade last year through persistent vio
lations of the laws Of North Caro-
lima. The seizure of Virginia vessels
| and the arrest of captains and crews fol
bringing oysters through to Norfolk II
violation of the laws OF North Carolina
were matters last season of weekly oc
currcnce. A business that has 10 b'
conducted under such risks and penalties
cannot long continue, and the Nortoll
packers are recognizing this fact. Som'
| have closed their establishments AM
some have removed to North Carolina
More are going there the coming season
LAST WINTERS OYSTER LEGISLATION.
"When the oyster question came be
fore the General Assembly the pas
winter Tidewater Virginia turned anxiou
ewes towards tie capital, looking for tn
development of some plan that woul
build ND and restore the industry to 1t
4