Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12

The Governor of Yir: inia has sent
a lengthy message to the Legislature
on the oyster interests of the State,
accompanied by a bill, the passage
of which. he thinks, will efFectually
protect them. The late hour, at
which they were received, prevents
rs from publishing the message, but
the bill suggested by him is given
below for the information of our
eaders. Its merits will be consider
cd in later issues of the ENrERPRIsE.
/. There should be shell-fish
commission selected from the differ
ert sections of the State, the mem
hcrs Of which should be paid q rea-
sonab!e salary TO supervise our oYs-
Ter interests. They should make an
ual reports to the Governor of the
work done during the year, with n
statement of cost attending same,
End with such recommendations as
to them may seem judicious for the
protection of the industry and for
Ea;s;ra -,sa.'fsr11rrs III TIE state. and if
there be any oyster lands claimed by
ether parties than the State, the
commissioners should reportthen num-
her of acres, where situated, and by
whom claimed and held, and the ten
lire by which they are held. The ma
tural beds should be clearly defined.
marked cut and plated on proper
maps. so that their extent and bcun-
diaries may be distinctly known. and
they should he held for the benefit Of
all OF the citizens of Virginia and be
protected by iudicious laws. so that
they be not rashly destroyed or I'M
necessarily injured by reckless per-
sons.
3. Ali of the oyster lands outside of
+he natural beds belonging to the
State, which have never been dis
posed of by the same, should be di-
viGed into lots-thosc nearest the
coast iuto lots of ten acres each and
those farther from the coast might be
divided into larger lots. Each lot
should be described and plated by q
competent surveyor. and as soon as q
sufficient number OF lots have been
so surveyed ard plated they should
! Q we'll advertised in such manner as
- give the best notice, and rented by
the shell-fish commission to the high
est bidder for term OF not less than
ten years. tue rent for the first year
to be paid in cash before an assign
nent shall be made, and at the com
mencelnent OF each succeeding year.
A failure TO pay should make void
the contract of rent.
i. The detail of q competent officer
y ON the United States government
o make the survey should be secured.
ard the work should be done by such
lIicer with the advice and assistance
of the shell-tish commission.
5. The plats and survey so made
should be as conclusive as legisla ton
crn make them, and the boundaries
of the natural beds, &c, should be
duly recorded in a suitable book kept
by the shell-fish commission for the
purpose. SO much as relates to the
land in any county should be record
ed in the clerks Office OF such county
and q copy sent to the secretary of
the Commonwealth for rccordation
in his office.
G. The shell fish commission should
have control over the natural beds
and Of the oyster lands not disposed
CT. and they should prescribe such
rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the same as may be necessary
Int not in conflict with the laws of
The State. The Legislature should
clearly define what is Il natural bed
OF rock, &C., for the guidance of the
commission.
Z. Upon the determination of the
location and area of the oyster
grounds and natural beds. the same
should be published for the informa-
ton of those whom it may concern,
and opportunity should be given to
any citizen interested. who is dissat-
isfed with the decision as announced.
to make his complaint in writing, set
ting forth the facts, and if necessary,
in the opinion of the commission. adj
ditional surveys and examinations
should be made by the shell-fish COM
mission and the engineer so as to give
justice to every individual if possible.
s. Fishing for oysters on the nat
ural beds should not be allowed from
the 1st of April to the LIST OF October
Of each wear. OF upon any public oys-
ter lands of the State of Virginin,
nor on Sunday, nor before sunrise,
nor sunset at any season OF the year.
o. A license-tax should be imposed
upon every purse-net and pound-net,
and upon every dredge and patent
tong. whether used on natural beds
or private ground. On private
grounds the owner should have the
Fight to catch his oysters at any sea,