Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-23


county is engaged IN the oyster industry Z
/ should say all of one third.
IMPORTANT INCOME.
Arc those people able 20 MAKE gOOu
iivlngs from tins business
AS there is long. close season when
oysters may not bo taken under tho law
the oyster industry go far as the majority
Of those engaged IN II are concerned goes
very largely 10 make up their livelihood
Sndced furnishes the MAJOR part Of u, 7ald
MIR. Chambers " As tho lands owned by
Tins regulation are thin as rule the sup
Elementary income furnished by oysteung
Is If vast importance 20 our people.
Have YOU any idea. Dir. Chambers, how
many bushels Of oysters are raised IN VI
guia and sent TO the markets OF tho
To answer this. said he. 7 should have to
resort 10 guessing. | have not
THE "DEEDGER " DESCRIBED.
What is "dredgern?
One who is provided with q sailing-ves-
gel dcckod over. of convenient size up TO
iftv tons burden. On the deck OF tins
vessel there are two windlasses secured,
one t. work the drcigo on each side OF the
vessel. The drcdge Is bar of IRON about
three feet long provided with short teeth
somewhat resembling garden rake. ms
bar Is set 20 the bottom OF a triangular
frame of iron rods, 90 the apex OF which
The rope or dredyc-liue is attached, the
other end If the rope being on the wind
lass on the deck of the vessel. There IS
also attached TO the drrdge bag or net
work Of chain, So arranged that when the
vessel is moving the d-odgo IS drawn over
the bottom, the toOthod bar scraplng up
the oysters and causing them u tau INTO
the bag Of chain-wOrk. which holds about
two and q half or three bushels. When 1t
s thought 20 be full II j. wound Up by
men at the w.uilass on deck, and there
the oysters are cullcd and the dredge
thrown over TO fan again. To work the
vessel II takes a crew Of about eight men
besides captain ana mate.
THE "ToSGsNFy."
What ia n "toncsmau." Mr.. Chambers?
One who IS provided with q boat or
canoe IN which % work. and pair Of
ovster-toncs. which somewhat resemble
two gardon-rakcs with the handles cross
"a al point about four feet from tho
rakrs. and rivctod al that point. 90 as 10
form toues with handles varying in length
with the depth of water they are L be
used in. This. with a board laid across tho
boat, on which the ovstcrmaus assistant
Iulls the oysters. makes up the tongmans
outfit His usual practlce, Ike the
Iiredger. is 10 work till ne las made his
days work, and then 90 alongside any
vessel in the harbor which NAV he buving
and sell his catch of tine day, clean uD hls
boat. and 90 home with the money for ms
days work in ms pocket. All tins is done
on tho grounds which produce oysters ma
turally and winch are not rented for plant
3ng.
TIE PLANT BID.
What IS the method Of planting q bed,
md how many wears dOcslt take 70 get one
into condition TO market the oyetcr-I
A location Is secured under the law,
which must not be g natural bed. Ihere
are two kinds of planting where the
.,lanter seeks 30 buy the small seed oysters
and sow them on the ground he has Sc
cured. which must have water enough on
st to protect them from frost, and wait for
them TO grow in size, not expecting them
u augment IN number. Such wall beroady
b. market in from ono 10 three years, ac-
cording % the ground on which they lo
and the force with which the tide tiOws
over them. The other kind of planting Is
where the planter desires 70 establish q
bed which Will catch the spawn, and thus
add 20 the number Of his oysters az well a.
q tho size of those he plants. / his requires
the sowing of shells on the bottom, 40 As
t. make q clean substance for the spawn
10 catch on and adhere 60, and is sad o.
take longer. ] have not heard of good re-
suits being thus obtained under i've years.
This has not been praetlcod IN my county.
FAMOUS GROUNDS.
What are the most famous oyster
grounds in your section of the country,
air. Chambers!
know If none more prolific than those
En- tho Potomac from nog-Island bar to
the mouth of that river, he replied.
Is illegal dredging carried ontoany great
extent?
II is not.
What revenue docs the State realize per
annum from tho oyster industry?
About $4,000. There are, however, bills
before The General Assembly now looking
g. nugmcutlng this revenue and for tho
better organization n tho industry and
closer collection Of taxes.
Mr.. Stubbs's BiIi Amended and Passed.
Mr.. Stubbs's bill revising the oyster
Jaws of the State came up IN the Senate at
o'clock yesterday rs the special orderand
an hour was spent in perfectins it.
When the Senate adjourned on Friday
the blll was under discussion and several
amendments Lad been agreed to, all Of
which were fully explained IN the UsSpGtct.
RULES FOR APPLICANT.
When the subject came up Yesterday Mr..
Mcdonald offered tins amendment, winch
met with little or no opposition and was
adopted
An applcationsf0 for assignments OF ovs-
ter-plantlug grounds other than for the
ground reserved for riparian owners shall
b. made To the OYSTER Inspector OF tho
county IN which SAID grounds are located,
stating rs near as may be the number
OF acres applied for the name OF tho
waters IA which located, and the name of
one ~ more prominent points or places
convenient L. said grounds. Thereupon
the SAID Inspector shall cause notices OF
SAID application to be posted for at least
thirty DAYS at the courthouse OF sad
county and at two or more prominent places
il the vicinity Of said grounds. Said no
tices shall contain the name or names OF
applicants. the probable number OF acres
Supplied for by each, the names OF the
waters where located. and the name Of
one or more prominent points convenient
~ said grounds.
After the expiration Of the thirty days
notice as aforesaid the inspector shall pro-
coed TO survey and assign the grounds SO
applied for, provided he escertalns 1t -
not natural bed, rock, or shOl within
the meaning Of this act.
DEFISIso NATURAL BEDS.
Mr. Moore offered the follow NO substI-
tute for the ninth section % the bill:
ANY bed. rock. or shoal whore at tho
time OF the appiicati on or IN any season
during the period Of FIVE years previous
thereto the oysters naturally growing
thereon are or have been 50 thick and
abundant that the public Is rcsorting or
has resOrtcd thereto for "a livelihood, and
the tongmen working thereon are or have
been able from their work 10 earn "a fair
average daily remuneration IS hereby de-
clared 10 be natural oyster-bed, rock, OF
shOal, and not assignable. Any assignment
made by the inspector shall IN all proceed
ings and for AL purposes whatsoever DO
construed TO DO an absolute final adjudica-
ton that the ground assigned is not a ma
tural Oyster-bed. rock, or shoal unless
within three months after the survey and
plat are recorded as required by sec
ton 0, some person or persons shall
file writing in the clerks Office Of
the county court where the record
Is stating that the ground assigned is a
natural oyster-bed. rock. or shoal. Upon
such writing being filed the clerk shall
forthwith issue rule against the assignee
requiring him 10 appear in said court and
show cause Why the said assignment
should not be revoked Ii the writing is
fled ten days before term OF the court