Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-21
Oysters and Public Opinion.


The suggestion that the members of the
General Assembly from the oyster-pro-
ducing sections of Virginia might well be
allowed to control legislation on this
subject will not receive general assent.
They certainly are better informed on
this topic than the up-country members
and within reasonable limits ought to
guide oyster legislation. but they are in
the minority in each House and must defer
to the will of the majority.
The view that most members take is that
the oyster-grounds are public lands; that
these now constitute almost all the valuable
assets the State has. and that there is
nothing in "the oyster problem" which
they cannot comprehend when it is ex-
planned by careful and competent speaker
or writer.
Usually the majority are inclined to be
deferential to the opinions of the salt
water men. but any hint that they cannot
understand the question irritates them.
The saltwater members. who are expert
enced in public affairs, appreciate this feel
ing and have never commended that all the
rest of the Legislators oughttoyieldto them.
They have only asked fair judgment on
the merits of their propositions; but they
do insist that when they have laid before
the two houses incontrovertible facts,
showing that it is not only to the interest
OF the seacoast and bay-shore counties
and the country contiguous. but of the
whole State, that a new policy should be
adopted, their words should not fall
upon deaf ears. Yet this has often been
their experience, and il may continue IN
less public opinion is educated up to the
point Of believing that the natural rocks
are really being destroyed; that the plant
beds do not yield as they should, and that
the whole section is suffering for want of
sensible and permanent legislation,
The demand of the people is for better
leasehold-a leasehold which will warrant
them in expending large sums of money in
planting and cultivating. That is what all
this agitation means.
We have letter from prominent gen.
tieman largely interested in oyster-culture,
who says that no convention OK represen-
tatives Of Maryland, Virginia, the Caro-
linas, and Georgia is needed, but that the
thing for us TO do first Is TO settle our do
nestle policy and then begin to talk about
interstate regulations. There is force in
this idea. He may be right. We want TO
do only that which will help our people.
II IN interstate convention will not avail,
why do not have it. II State convention
will serve better, have that Either way
Richmond stands ready TO further the cause
and will be rejoiced to have the oppor-
tunity to entertain the members.
Convention or no convention, efforts
should be made to convince the up-country
people that this is a serious question, and
that they ought TO give it more study.
This done they would not often dis
agree with the people who live near the
salt waters of Virginia.
Elsewhere in this issue We publish re-
port of the proceedings Of a public meet
Ing held in Mathews county, in which the
views Of those people are set forth in sue
cinct and stirring resolutions.
OF the existence of the grievances about
which they complain there can be no
doubt, but we are not prepared TO say
that all the remedies they propose will
prove acceptable. We. however, commend
tho movement. II is impossible 10 secure
the needed relief without agitation.