The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-01-31
TUE OYSTER QUESTION.
A statement From Those Who Opposed
the Law.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRoS1c1El

Especial Cor. STATE CHRoNIGLE.l
WASHINGTON, y. c., Jan. 26.-The re-.
cent act OF the present Legislature re-
gardlng the catching Of oysters has
already had a disastrous effect upon the
industry in this section and in all that
part of North Carolina tributary to Pam
lico Sound.
As the readers of the CHRONICLE
already Know the act prohibited the
catching OF oysters except with hand
tongs, a slow and laborious process,
which is only practicable in shallow
water, say under eight or ten feet in
depth. Under various laws passed since
1885, with reference to the oyster beds
OF this State, this great resource of the
State was made known to the World;
certain public oyster grounds were set
apart IN the deep waters of Pamlico
Sound and under certain restrictions
the DREDGING Of oysters was allowed in
those waters. Under these laws capital
was invested in various enterprises,
notably IN canning establishments, SO
that hundreds of thousands of dollars
were annually being added to the aggre-
gate wealth of the State from a hitherto
unknown and undeveloped resource
Prior to 1887 it is estimated that the
entire oyster product Of the State did
rot exceed $780, 600
In this town alone there are two can
ming establishments, the plants Of which
cost about $4,000, which employ daily
from 600 TO 700 laborers and expend each
week from $4,000 to $4,000. Think
of the immense value of such enterprises
to any town and how gladly any COM
munity would welcome such an addition
to Its productive capacity 1t is conced-
ed that the ''tonging" IF oysters is not
practicable IN dep water where "dredg-
ing Was permitted, and that if the laws
had been enforced no damage would
have eusuei to the interests Of tho State
nor to the native citizens OF ilyde coun-
ty or other counties lying on Pamlico
Sound.
But the laws were not enforced
Non-resideots from Maryland and
Virginia invaded our waters and tres
passed upon the rights of cur people and
; IN other respects the law was violated.
This has caused a righteous Indignation
and demand for the enforcement Of
the law ask you, MIR. Editor, what
was the remedy in such an emergency?
Was it not to enforce me law? But in
doing so was it necessary to prohibit
dredging altogether oud thereby destroy
those industries wh.ol sprang up under
the sanction Of the law and in which
capital had been invested by the invi-
tation OF the Sta We think not.
Justice, right and tie fair name of the
9 State ere involved IL this question.
a Look at the situation IL this town.
q Nina tenth5 Of the deeiged oysters which
y were sold il this maj ke5 during the pres
: ent season (and this is the first season
: The Gaming establishment has operated
> here) came from the deep water at the
. mouth Of Pamlico river and at the head
y Of Pamlico Sound, just above and be-
i low Pamlico Point Light house; in water
, from ten TO twenty seven feet deep.
n Lieut. Winslow, in his report stated
N that most of this area was unsuitable fol
oysters, aud, in fact, it was not hereto
fore known that any oyster beds were
le located here.
t. No oysters have ever been caught will
Q, tongs in this territory and it is impossi
nt BILE to do so. Unless you allow 'dredg
10 ing" in this locality the oysters will no
rs be caught at all. It is conceded tha
rs the "tongs'' cannot supply the cannerie
p here and to put an absolute embargo o.
}" dredging is to close the enterprises.
II The recent law prohibited dredgin
~ any where and the results follow
ne natural conclusion.
The oysters which were "dredged
he and brought to our market can not b
IS caught with tongs; they will remain a
ma the bottom of the Sound as they hav
nd lain for centuries and will be of u
d benefit to the State.
Of In the beginning of the article, sal
the recent law had had disastrous effeC
1t is true. To-day the two canning es
rs tablishments in the town are closed. MOI
&C. than six hundred laborers, most Of thel
ase poor women and children, are out
eo employment and capital which was il
vested at the invitation Of the State
,nt rendered idle and useless. Is this righ
,ed We appeal with confidence to the Ger
,es eral Assembly and to the people
ed North Carolina. b.