Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-02-14
Correspond cnce.


MR.EDIToR-Iam glad to see the oys-
ter question SO ably discussed in your
columns, and hope it will continue to
be agitated until out of it comes some
truths which will lead to the adop-
ton of laws that will protect the ma
tural beds from destruction and at
the same time foster the increased
culture of the oyster. AS Captain
Browne says, the fleets of vessels that
twenty years ago could be seen in our
waters taking oysters are gone-and
gone because the oysters are gone too.
That Pocomoke Sound and adjacent
tributary streams are enjoying q
prosperous season cannot be denied.
What is this due to? Is it not due to
the fact that Pocomoke has been
protected against dredging, and that
longing does not destroy the beds
like dredging? I have heard that
longing is like q good hoeing. 1t is
also true thatmuch of thisprosperity
spoken of in the resolutions of the
Messungo Neck meeting came along
the line indicated in Capt. Brownies
letter. viz: Waste bottoms have been
stailcd off and planted-lands that
were of no use made to yield hand
some income.
1 agree with Capt. Browne, l don't
believe the oystermen ought to be
taxed directly any more than the
miner for going down in the bowels
of the earth AMI getting out its
treasures, and one is about as hard
rs the other. The State gets the
benefit Indirectly in increased prop
erty and general thrift of her people.
In All discussions ofthis question tho
welfare of the citizen is lost sight OF
in the cagerness of the State to get
revenue. It takes other things to
constitute y wealthy State besides
oyster beds and mountains of ore.
And it seems to me tho most i'm
portant question is not how the State
can get money out of it directly, but
how can she ny wise legislation come
to the assistance of her sons and help
them develop this industry.
One thing is certainly needed and
that is tho clll law. The very small
oysters ought not. to he taken for
market. The State of Maryland has
such a law-anl very often q. boat
goes into Crisfeld with small oysters
and cvades the Maryland law by
claiming they are Virginia oysters.
If you will take 81 map and look at
the oyster planting grounds belong
ing to Accomac and northampton
counties, you will be astonished that
so little has been done to utilize this
means of wealth. Or orr water
courses there are many farms whose
shores and planting grounds are
worth moro than the farms. | pre-
sume Capt B. is not far out Of the
way when he says, that about one
hundredth part is natural oy:-
ter beds. The questionis, how much
has been taken up and is utilized as
IL source or revenue.
I, for one, after twenty years ex-
perience with oysters and oystermcn,
heartily endorse the proposition.
sMark off, stake out, survey and re-,
cord the flats of the natural oyster
bed nthe respective counticsin which
they are located, there will be some
workfor the oyster Navy).n They need
some. Then granite the oystermenthe
bare grounds under the water. at the
same price and on the sAme terms
that all the other lands of the Com
monwealth have been granted.
Have good Gull law.
The hardship of the business is a
sufficient restriction. 1t is wrong to
impose any direct tax on the hard
working oysterman-he earns all he
makes-if it is $50 per day.
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