The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-26

on the rocks last fall than there mad been for
long time before. These were rapidly taken
away, and oysters are scarce enough on the
rocks now We used TO bring oysters from
the Rappahannock for planting at fourteen
cents for two bushel baskets. Such oysters
would cost fOrty-sX cents bushel now Tong
ing oysters in the rough. that is taking shells
and all. has broken up the rocks and left
nothing for oysters to strike on. OF course
the increased demand for oysters has caused
them to be taken as rapidly rs possible.
There should be a culling law 10 preserve
the natural rocks. In Maryland it is unlawful
to take oysters less than two and One-hait
inches long. Such a law would do great deal
of good in Virginia. The season for working
on the natural rocks ought to he shorter. IL
ought 10 begin October | and end May 81.
The later you work in the spring the better
chance there is for a strike. because by tong;
ing on the rocks the shells are washed ana
thus made ready 10 catch the spawn IN June
The greater part of the oysters caught IN sep
TENDER are sold to planters. and many oi them
die because they are weak from spawning ana
because the water il still hot. TINS Is Er.ht
waste. Oysters will keep longer out OF the Waler
in June than in September.
Raising oysters from shells will build up the
industry and make IL truly great III taxes
three or four years from Its strike 10 MAKE
saleable oysters. II now costs 5000 per
them thrown out. They will be higher by
another year. should not put less than SIX
thousand bushels 10 the acre. II you Cos n
strike YOU would have To take mp the young
oysters the next year and put them on other
ground. | think II best to sprinkle about one
thousand bushels of shells TO the acre as soon
rs you take of the young oysters. By DONG
this every year you never break through your
artificial rock Suppose you got from your
six thousand bushels Of shells enough young
oysters 10 cover an acre and that IN four years
from the planting of the shells you sold l.3OO
bushels Of oysters, which paid you
above the expense of marketing 90 cents Per
bushel. The shells cost 3. then there Is the
tax on the ground over the investment and
the expense Of moving the young oysters. The
remainder a the or gnal planting Of shells
would pay all of these expenses. 80, II moth
ing happened you would make ljC per cent.
in four years. This looks fine and sometimes
it works ont that way but there are many
risks 10 run.
There ought 10 be a general survey of the
oyster bottoms The natural rocks ought 10
be marked off by buoys and preserved for the
Use OF all the citizens OF the State. great
many poor people make their living from the
rocks If the rocks were sold they would be
bought by capitalists and our poorer people
would be greatly injurned. The oysters on
the rocks are OF great use in supplying spawn.
the business ought to sound the bottom
carefully and determine which should be Kept
as natural rock. There should be no appeal
from the decision Of the commissioners. Lltl-
CATION Is hurting the industry now All
ground that was not declared 10 be natural
rock should be taken for planting II II was
wanted The planting grounds should be
surveyed and planted. and the present occu-
piers should have the refusal of what they ac-
tually use, provided they have complied with
the present law. | believe the State ought to
sell the planting grounds and give fee sim
pie title 10 them. The planters would then
feel secure, and they would be encouraged 10
lay out their money. The present uncertainty
is gripping its industry. The grounds ought
10 be sold at fixed price per acre. according
10 locality. Although bought my ground OF
private individuals. | am willing 10 pay the
State II per acre in addition TO the cost OF
surveying planting. deciding and recording.
The State ought 10 make the survey and
charge "A fixed price per acre, so that the
small holder would not have 10 pay more
proportiOnally than the large planter Under
the present law il costs as much 10 lay on
one-auarter acre rs il does ten acres IN one
piece The planting ground ought 10 be as
sessed and taxed rs real estate. | am wiling
to pay personal property tax on the planted
oysters | sell.
In deciding as 10 the ground planter actu-
ally uses. il must be remembered that he Is
obliged to have more ground than he plants
on at any one time. Shifts are necessary,
Just as in farming. Even ground requires
rest from one 10 three years.
Let the State give good title to the plant
ing grounds and thereby encourage the plant
ing Of shells and we shall see an industry
spring up which shall surprise even the most
enthusiastic oysternan Encourage the IN
dustry for few years. and there will be no
trouble about a revenue from oysters.