Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-17
GIVE THE OYSTER A REST.
Five Years Recommended for Their Pro-
lection and Propagation.

tSVttonlVuAcAEoO VI tut Elcnuo0u Dtp0tch.l
DuSsyILIE, Va, February 14.--As 80
subject OF oysters will not ask more space
of you than for q simple, brief statement
as to the only way 70 protect aud propa-
gate the oyster. Despite so much legisla-
ton, in my humble judgment, formed
upon observation and information derived
from experienced practical oystermen, no.
thing has been done meeting the emer-
gency. believed is conceded on all sides
that the oyster IS fast becoming extinct
and unless something is done 10 save them
they will be utterly so in very few years.
IL is needless 10 discuss what has done all
this. The answer Is indisputable-ztha it
has been done by the way in which oysters
have been taken. So long as the ofd-fash-
toned tonqs were used no damage was
done the rocks or natural fields, but when
modern machinery was resorted to the date
Of the oysters destruction was fixed. The
rocks have been SO dragged and broken TO
pieces, 80 smoothly scraped as to leave no
thing for tho spawn or genatiye properties
of the oyster to bold TO, and consequently
they are washed away and lost. Be this
as 10 may, tho oyster is upon the verge OF
utter dissolution, and dredging and drag
ging the rocks have done it.
THE REMEDY.
The only remedy is at hand-perfectly
plain and simple. Let the General AS
sembly of Virginia Immediately upon re-
converting enact a law making it felony,
punishable by confinement in the penten-
tiary for so many years, and heavy fine
and forfeiture of boats, tackle, tongs, or
other implements, to take an oyster from
any of the waters Of Virginia for o period
of five years from the passage of that act.
All that oysters ask at human hands is an
t.nN..r ~. agN NJ NNynN n
rocks of the Rappahannock river had
rest of the four years of war. That IS, the
river trade III oysters was estopped during
that period. The result was that the rocks
were crowded with oysters at the close of
the war and removal of the blockade. The
most insatiate raid and rush were made
upon them, and, like killing the goose
that laid the golden egg" now shere are
but few oysters left. 1t Is very true that
such a law would raise howl of opposi-
ton and indignation among traders in
oysters, vet would 1t not be better Tor
them 10 suspend operations for five years
than after a short while longer now to en-
gage in il and have to suspend forever? Ii
Is very certain that the oyster trade in
sections where carried on has proven
curse TO agriculture, as clearly shown by O
recent writer in the Dispatch, either from
Lancaster or Mathews county. He spoke
labor, which was put In the oyster trade
instead of upon the lands Very few have
accumulated money or property by the
trade-here and there being exceptions, as
in all other business. But as general thing
there is no money laid up from the oyster
traffic. Little grog-shops and stores have
sprung up all along in reach or TINS
business, and there oystermen most DO
congregate when the weather IS such as
to preclude river work, and there they
spend their money in whiskey, cheese and
crackers.
BEoRE TIE WAR.
Even preceding the WARRIOR half q GEN.
tury-vessels wouldput in their appearance
about the LIST Of September. From that
time TO about the LIST of coming April they
would trade in oysters. Five and SIX
schooners and sloOps might be seen from
early fall to early spring anchored near the
rocks with their oyster-hag floating from
the masthead. From fifty to hundred
small boats, with two men TO each, could
be seen taking oysters for these vessels.
The men such as were slaves paid their
owner 81 apiece per day. All over that
amount from the sales of their oysters
which were made by tubs or hampers-they
were allowed for themselves. Every
farmer upon the river in reach of the rocks
who owned or hired men had them oyster
ing, As long as q vessel came to buy them
the result was that theyt IN good deal
of money; but upon the principle OF come
easy go easy they rarely accumulated, ana
they We're pretty generally DaokWa iT9
in their crops. For instance, II you would
look for successful. prosperous farmer in
all sorts of crops you would have TO go IN
the forest ont of the reach of the oyster
trade to find him. The forester kept his
labor upon his farm-all of 1t and all the
time-who, with far inferior natural lands,
they made everything that land or orchard
could produce. Their stocks were large,
fat, and fines their larders bountlfully
supplied with all that man or beast needed
and wanted, and their cellars the repository
of barrels OF pure honest old apple Jack
and hard apple cider and wild grape wine
ali such as these of their own raising and
manufacture.
STRANGERS.
OYSTER farmers were strangers unless
their forest brother would give him " a
horn" or as when he came to borrow a
hundred or two dollars till oyster season
set in" The first farmer was generally
ready to plant corn before the oyster
farmer had stuck pillow or put up apanel
of fencing. What was true OF the
oyster trade then is more than so now, for
then the labor was subject TO the will and
0lSGTeIlOu OF lIH ONLtIs NOm ~ . oUbJCN1
TO its own and careless of and Indifferent TO
the future. An entire abolition of the oys-
ter trade would be a God-send to agrlcul-
ture in such sections where 1t now pre-
walls and of damage or detriment to none,
save probably Othello's occupation az q
whiskey and cheese vendor for awhile would
be gone.
THE RESULT.
Such law would return the labor to the
farms the farms would be renovated. ana
crops ouadrupled. The people living after
five wears and generations TO come would
have full benefit of oysters. They could
do Something more than merely read and
"hear tell" Of the good things their fore.
fathers enjoyed and grieve over the loss OF
them through the insatiate greed and des-
truction of the traffic in them. Oysters DO
not ask for any Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or
Mathematical learning to protect and pro-
pagate them. They simply ask the state
OF Virginia to protect them against all
corners and give them an undisturbed RESI-
upon their God-given rocks for period OF
five wears. during which time they promise
10 be of no cost, expense, annoyance, or
trouble TO the State aud after that time TO
yield q most grateful return TO IT and its
neonle and continue to do so as long as
their beds are protected against such as
the present death-dealIng and destructive
machinery invented for their capture. we
NAV legislate and discuss until dooms-
day and the State throw away millions IN
neTfect waste under the idea or plea OF
educating the oyster TO live and increase,
but IN the end IL will be discovered that
rest is what the oyster needs. Then 1t VIII
be too late ito lock the stable door after
the horse has been stolen" Better do
without the luxury of the oyster and the
profit in its trade for few years than en-
low them for a brief season longer now
than 10 bid them farewell forever.
Such law would not perplex the most
continuation. and that is hands off of the
oysters of Virginia waters for five years
from The date Of il except few for family