Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-26
ABOUT THE oYsTERlNOusTRY.
Draft OF a Proposed Law for tho Protcc-
ton Of the Lueious Bivayles.

ID ait oil EFopu4NN Inv lux Aho AStNN
ton Of the Lueious Bivayles.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
MATHEWS COURTHOUSE, YA.i November
23.-At a public meeting held IN the court
house Saturday evening TO receive reports
of committees appointed on the 9TH OF No
vember for the various election precincts
of The county J. q. IhurstOn was elected
chairman and A. }. Miller secretary.
Upon taking the char Captain Ihurston
stated that the meeting was called to- the
purpose OF ascertaining from the chairman
of committees appointed at previous
meeting for the five election precincts OF
the county the sentiment OF the people IN
regard to desired les isIatIon on 'hs oyster
industry.
The reports of the chairmen Of the seye-
raj committees were received and dis
cussed by sections, and with the amend
ments necessary to harmonic the whole
were embodied in O memorial to the Legs
lature, embracing the salient points OF an
oyster bill, which was unanimously
adopted as follows
PEOPossU Law,
l. We demand that the natural oysteT-rocks,
beIs shoals, and clamming-bottOms be6trictly
preserved aud protected aud be held inyiolste
Tor the use Of al tue people OF the state, and
that the HAtuo suhu NJ 20 tAbJSlb W oAiti
lease. rent, or assignment; That all natural
rocks shall be accurately surveyed, located,
mapped, and recorded, aud that every lessee oil
waste bottom taken up Tor planting purposes De
roGuired 10 pay upon tbs full acreage Of same,
aud TINT ali leased bottoms not utilized within a
period OF twelve mouths for tho planting and
propagation OF oysters shall 10 declared for
feited and open for rent to bonazfds leAsees
sPAwSSG SEASON.
Q. We further recommend Tor tho conserva-
tIon and recnp eration OF said rocks during the
spawning reason that IL shall be unlawful e
take or catch oysters in any manner from the
public rocks in any Of the waters OF this Com
monwealih during the months Of May, June,
July, and August.
q we recommend the passage q general
cuu law which shall make Il Unlawful 70 take OF
catch oystors from the public rocks smaller than
two and half inches inlength and that al shells
be returned 70 said bottoms for the propagation
and support OF youpg oysters,
A That the Interests o. the people OF Ma
thews and Middlesex are identical and homo
geneOus, and We strongly deprecate the oilort nov
beinR made By disconcerted and designing poll
ticians 10 sever our political association as le-
gislatlye district
AGAINST Rigs And BossEs
s. That the OF the late election have set
tied am 1ng other things that one or two men
cannot run the Democratic parry Ia their Own
interest; that the people viii not longer submit
10 tho unscrupulous abuse OF the power wblcl
accrues 70 onlciai position: that BY Determined
and united effort they have achieved tEeir free-
dom from the blightng curse of ring donlinatlon
and potty bossism that tho people vleE yltl
indignation the shameless s1byersion Of the
time-hOnored principles o5the patty Ia the cree.
ton 0f a heartless monopoly BY tao accredited
leaders OF the party-to wit, the wholesale mo
nopoly and invasion OF the rights OF the working
mau in the public waters, and they demand
that all bnOys, stakes, aud other markings on the
public domain so taken up DO removed, aud said
rocks DO restored 70 the wQrkingnan, as provided
3. That the tenure a ONCE Of the State
Auditor aud Treasurer and Of county treasuE en-
and sheriis be limited 70 two terms; that the
people desire 20 look behind the scenes and soc
what Is being done with the public funds; thai
turn about u fair play among olice-hodefs a.
well as among those who create and support
these onices-
z. That II Is the sense OF this meeting thai
the states oyster-steamGr Chesapeake should
he employed for the legitimate purpose Tor
which She was nnisslOned--nan0ly: The
preservation and protection Of the natura
oyster-rocks. beis, and shoals, ana We tndAg-
nantly denounce the employment OF saie
steamer by the local ring government FOR pn-
liticai and private uses, such as the running o.
voters on olection-days and tina carrying o
favored passengers 10 and trO, 70 the neglect o
the general interest Of tho oyster Industry.
s. Resoired, That the secretary forward copte,
OF these proceedings 70 orr delegate-elcct,
Tyler bland, AID tornE EIcHxoED DlsPA1cifanf
West Point FirgsnfaR.
lagsnieE please COPY.