Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26
A BIG QUESTION.
Oyster Legislation and How the
Biyalve Is to Be Protected.
IMPORTANT FACTS
Shown In on Interview with M. James
keYtnamin.
FAULTY LEGISLATION
The 0utgrOwih Of Efforts TO Raise
Revenue.
THE NATURAL ROCKS.
How They Are Depleted and the Remedy
Suggested,
THE NATURAL ROCKS.
How They Are Depleted and the Remedy
Suggested,

We can best foster and prOtect our Oys'cN
interests. II is one 10 which every legs
lstor and public-spirited man should
give careful study.
Mr.. James McMenamin, OF Hampton,
Va, IL probably one Of the best-posted
men in Virginia on this subject In an
interview with him the Dispatch has
elected the following, which will be read
With interest;
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
"Whst do YOU think OF tho oyster
question, Mr.. McMensmin ?"queried the
Dispatch .:.
al am afraid Of this oyster question,
said he al am afraid that II 1t IS not
rightly handled il will disrupt our party
in the sixteen Tidewater counties worse
than the state debt did the party IN the
Southwest
cater all the settlement OF the State
debt was largely a matter OF sentiment.
Whether IL was decided one way or the
other the decision affected us as indl-
vidnals but little, but here Is public
ouestion pending. upon the wise solu.
ton Of which depends the daily bread
of thousands. We have allowed this
oyster question to drift and take care OF
itself lust as we once allowed the state
debt TO drift We suffered severely lor
our Gin Of omission IN respect 70 the
debt the lesson should not be lost to u.s.
The oyster business and every allied &C.
cunstion in Tidewater is suffering from
The present condition of the natural
rocks A reasonable and weD-founded
belief exists that the industry can be
made prosperous and remuneratlve to
the State by proper legislation. Ii this
legislation is not had the proverblal
LOYALTY of our Tidewater people to our
party will be greatly weakened, and II
some political Moses does not rise up 10
take advantage of the indifference that
will follow, then the times have greatly
changed.
THE BEGINNING or A TAX on OYSTERS
"Will you kindly give us something
Of the history of Yirginia's oyster legis-
lation ?"
Gone OF Virginias first reoonstruc-
ton Governors was ut hls wits end 10
raise sufficient revenue for the needs OF
his administration. In his dilemma he
invited Mr.. William +. Taylor to be
Auditor Of Public Accounts. New sub.
iects of taxation had to be found, and
The Auditor recommended the natural
oyster beds of the state. This then was
the beginning of tax upon oysters, the
commencement Of our quarter OF CEN
fury OF oyster legislation.
AN OVER ESTIMATED AREA.
"a former Governor had brought the
subject TO the notice Of the General AS
sembly. but it had failed at that time to
receive q favorable consideration. 1t
has been stated, says Auditor Taylor IN
his first report, 'by persons well &C.
Quainted with the topography OF the
oyster country and the nature and extent
OF the oyster trade that there are at least
640,O00 acres Of oyster-beds within the
limits of and belonging exclusively
10 the State. and that the money
value of the oysters that are
raised annually therefrom amounts at a
low estimate 10 Sl0,0O0,0 0O.' 1t must
he remembered here that the Auditor
was speaking Of natural oyster-beds or
srocks.' There was little or no oyster
planting at that time and there was no
need for 1t. While our natural oyster
area at the time mentioned was very
large. it had probably neither the extent
nor value estimated by Auditor Taylors
informants. At tho prices atwhlch oysters
were then sold over 40 100000 bushels
of oysters would have to be annually
topged or dredged TO reach the valuation
named in the Auditors report. In 1865
the total annual value OF the maritime
and inland fisheries OF the world was
sl20. 600. 900. 1t is not at oil probable
that the value OF the oysters taken from
our natural beds in that year was equal
10 one twelfth of that vast sum. 1t 10
sufficient, however, for our present
needs to know that the area was very
large and that the oysters upon 1t were
very valuable, and 1t was proper that
they should DO made to pay revenue
h the State.
FEuIrLrss EFFORTS TO PROTECT TIE
OYSTER.
"AIl experience has proven, said Gov
ernor Pierpout in his first message to the
General Assembly advising the taxation
of oysters, that il 10 eminently proper 10
protect oysters by regulating tine time
and mode Of taking them so as to pre-
vent the diminution of their increase.
Nearly every subsequent oyster-law gave
the primary object of its existence to be
the protection Of the oyster. The word
protection has magic influence on
tile average citizen. 1t has been tht
trademark Of more than one political
party. Ii is hghtning-rod shat We
have reared aloft above our industrial
system with the lower end dangling IL
the air. 1t is all safe provided you are
on the right end of it. We should no
however harshly criticise the efforts Il
protect the oyster because at the en(
OF two decades and half they ar
shown to have been useless. We onl,
know now that the impossible was be
ing attempted
"The harvest is soon gathered wher
oil men reap and no man sowA Tn
marvel is that it is not sooner gathered
IL our forests we're common property "
would soon have no forests, even on
shads-trees would disappear but for il
dividual ownership.
yuLtkE THIN AZ NOW TO kAtSE THE T.
pRcTED REVENUE.
"Attempts to raise from the natur
Oyster the revenue expected have be,
almost as Disappointing as the result
the efforts that have been made TO pr
tect and preserve the oyster.
between the Governors and Il
Auditors expectations and the Treas
rer's realization . very wide gap h
generally existed. Not, however. Il
want of a sufficient levy. We started
vigorously in this respect, taxing ever
man aud every boat and even every il
plemsnt used on the beds and evel
person who took out an oystor-licen
vas obliged 10 give bond and secnrit
TO comply With the requirements Of IL
Law, and 30 close was the supervise
in Ie66-'67 that it cost S2.4
10 get $500 into the State Treasur,
Then We had our oyster navy, and
creditable squadron il was. II had ADJ
and faithful officers and en oyster bill I