The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-20


poor old Gloucester is really paying 10 tho
State over $4,000 en- account OF oysters.
Boat property and planted oysters pay county
taxes and all Oystermen over twenty-Qhe
years Of age pay the capltation tax as other
men do. -,
know that this amount is nothing Ike so
large as il would be If all of the tax provided
for i'm the law was properly assessed and col
lected Much more ground Is held for planting
! than returned The inspectors are compelled
10 guess at the number Of acres. thlnk IL
probable that q survey would show that hoO
more than one-fourth Of the ground now
stuck up is paying the rent OF % cents per
acre TO the State Boat property and plant
ed oysters are not properly returned out tne
same may be said Of personal properly
throughout the State.
A largo portion Of the tax imposed on
| tongers Is not collected. When you c0hslu,r
that the assessors of this tax are also the col
lectors. and that the Constitution Of the state
saws that mo license shall be- required tor the
/ privilege of taking oysters from the natural
beds with ordinary oyster 10 rs, ~ Is surpriS-
ing that any Of It Is collected. The tonglnen,
however. are perfectly willing 10 submit q
any constitutional tax. 20 bee limited only by
the necessities of government economically
administered. Many do pay every cent re-
| ouired of them. II others evade It. the fault
must be with the law or with those who adj
minister Il. In either case, those who 10 pay
are not 10 blame. and they ought not % oe
! made TO suffer under an increased burden or
taxation. Twenty five cents per acre IS equiv
! alent 10 yaluing the grounds at t62.50.
The best farming lands in the state are not
! assessed 50 high rs this II should be remen-
bered that the planting grounds are utterly
worthless until they are either planted IN
shells or oysters The capital invested Is
taxed by law. and this is the only case where
a growing crop is taxed. The Constitution OK
Virginia says that all taxation shall be uniform
and al yalOrpm II the oyster law Is com
piled with planted oysters frequently pay the
tax twice year. l know most people contend
! that they have TO pay tax only on the oysters
they have on hand on February lst, but TINS
is most certainly not the proper construction
Of the law The law requires the planter %
pay tax On all the oysters he has during the
year The tonger pays 80 cents on the -IUO
worth If oysters he expects % catch. or %
cents for the privilege OF OySterlng three
months. The planter buys from the tonger,
plants and returns the oysters for taxation
even II they are not held 10y him a month. We
act upon this construction ot the law.
The present oyster law. II 1t were practl-
cable and could be strictly enforced, would
certainly raise sufficient revenue 10 satisfy
every one.
The rate of taxation is sufficiently high g,
if the industry is ever 10 grow ms II should do.
That the natural supply of oysters Is be'us
rapidly exhausted there Is no room % doubt.
] MS has been tle case III AhIutflliNI ANl
other states Necessity forced Connecticut 20
change her policy and the oyster industry IS
now adding millions of dollars annually % the
wealth Of her people Virginia should emu
late the example of Connecticut, and. ike her,
look not 10 the direct but b the indirect
revenue 10 be derived from oysters. Artificial
propagation has saved ana punt UP
the. industry IN Connecticut, and II must
do the same for Virginia II II Is 10
be done at all. No man can risk
raising oysters from shells with the right 10
hold the ground only one year. or even for
series Of years, with constant threat OF IN
creased taxation. Shells cost now five cents
bushe on the ground. IL takes from three 10
five thousand bushels Of shells 10 the acre.
Under the most favorable circumstances DO
takes three years 10 make crop OF oysters
from shells 1t IL absolutely necessary IN
planting and propagauns oysters 10 have
shifts Of ground, that Is at the very least
three times Il prefer four tines as much
ground IA You cover any one year. 10 ~
strange. but true. that most oyster grounds
are more easily worked down OF worn out 10y
constant use than farming lands. Sufficient
rest. however, will make planting grounds as
good rs they ever were. Rest, and nothing
but rest will restore them. Sometimes oysters
have 10 be shifted IN order TO get them %
fatten.
used in the law, have never been defined.
Each inspector puts his own construction
upon them. Frequently, after a planter has
rented ground and put shells or oysters on II,
he Is presented for occupying "A rock, bed or
shOal.' Ihs IL not only "A serious matter %
the planters, but also 20 the state, III the way
of costs for prosecutions, &c. An accurate
and permanent survey of the planting grounds
bv skilled engineer under the supervision
of experienced commissioners, who should be
State officers and whose duty 10 should be o.
determine which should bee rock, bed. OF
shoal," and which planting ground, would
settle all disputes The survey OF the ground
would not cost the State a cent for therenters
would pay FOR the survey.
The natural rocks ought. under no circum-
stances 10 be rented out or sold. Iongers
generally seem 10 agree that the oyster
season ought 20 begin October lst and end
April 30th. This would leave on the rocks
small oysters now taken IN September and
May. and II would make prices higher. Plant
ers would have 10 pay more tor Their stock.
but they would have control Of the markets
during May and September.
The present tax on tongers IS uncOnstitu-
tional and therefore an outrage The oyster
men, Ibelieye. would vote for an amendment
10 the Constitution so as 10 allow a license tax
of not more than : per capita per year.
Tongers and all square dealers complain
very much of the unlawful measures so much
used. Tubs Of uniform size should be used
throughout the State
bracing the following cardinal points.
l. Specifically define natural rock, bed or
shoal
2 All natural rock, bed or shoal" 20 he
held az a common property for the use and
benefit of all citizens Of the State.
3. All other bottoms below low water mark
10 be construed 10 be planting grounds.
I. All planting grounds to be accurately
surveyed. mapped or plated. with courses
and distances suitably, accurately and per
manently bouyed. marked or staked and sold
az q Just and reasonable and fixed price 20
citizens Of the State only. who may wish 10
engage in the planting or propagating Of
oysters
5. The parties renting planting grounds,
and not rock. bed or shoaln under the
present law. with oysters or shells actually
planted thereon, 10 have the prior right 70
buy the grounds 50 rented and planted IN
shells or oysters.
6. Planting grounds 10 be taxed according
| 10 value. as real estate is taxed.
7. In no case should any person be allowed
TO hold planting grounds merely for the
natural increase OF oysters or for the purpose
of sub-letting.
3. All planted oysters and shells TO be taxed
as other personal property. according 10 value.
9. The measures for measuring oysters in
! the shell 10 be the half bushel and the bushel
| tub 10 be made Of galvanized iron so
numbered and branded as not to be easily coun-
terfeited. and furnished TO oyster dealers by
the State at sufficient advance over and
above prime cost so as 10 cover all cost Of
I