The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
Views Of the Secretary ofthe State Association
of Planters.


stock became so scarce and high that four
years ago it had to he abandoned. Mr. Nc
Menamin has been planting oysters for about
SIX wears His views on the subject are given
in the following interview
Do YOU regard the oyster question as
problem!
There is nothing problematic about it.
Much confusion has been created IN the pub
lie mind by misleading statements and by the
notification OF articles written by persons VINO
know a little Of the subject rs the generality
of those who have read these articles The
oyster question must be settled by the april
cation Of common sense business principles.
Do YOU think that the settlement Of the oys
ter question should leo left entirely to the Tide
water pcOpley The 1idewater delegates have
understood the question better than the men,
bers from the interior but II may be better 10
have the clearer judgment Of the members
from the interior. | mean that sometimes the
environment Of particular member Is such
that he is called upon TO support a measure
that his Judgment tells HIM l. not Tor the bel-
eft Of the industry nj large. but he Is forced
10 represent his constituents and not himself
The interior members. being free from the
pressure of local influence can take broader
view and act with clearer judgment They
need ONLY to have all the facts before them,
and am glad 81 know that I'm TINES has
undertaken TO spread the light
|
water people are opposed 20 the up-country
members having anything to do with the
settlement Of the oyster question. his IS
unfair to our people The 1ldewater man
with case IN court would reject the juror
who knew too much about the controversy
An opinion formed. expressed or admitted
results in the Juror having TO step down and
ont. Applying this rule TO the settlement
Of the oyster question the interior
members would be the ideal jurors
We are willing 10 submit our case 10 the
interior members. believing that when u u
fully understood il viii lie decided in accord
ance with the best interests OF the state.
Are the oyster land, very valuable, and can
the State derive a LARGE revenue from them
There are two classes of lands natural rock
and barren, abandoned bottoms. \ natural
rock is a formation that las been built mp
somewhat after the manner Of coral reef.
Centuries ago. perhaps some oyster spawn
found Judgement upon stone At the bottom
Of one Of our rivers or bays. Here 1t grew,
maiured spawned and died This spawn
attached itself to the forest shell. and 50 the
process went ON until the adherng shells
formed an area sufficiently important 10 be
called an oyster rock as a natural rock
These spots are a comparatively small proper
ton Of the bottoms of our rivers and bays.
The rest of the bottoms have never produced
oysters naturally. and probably they never
Will produce them. These bottoms have
artificial cultivation Of oysters can only b.
determined 10y "a practical test.
When the war ended oysters were abundant.
cheap and in great demand. The vast arti-
fetal beds of the North were not then IN tx
istrnce Great fleets of Northern vessels came
10 Virginia to cany our luscious bIyalyes to the
North.
These oysters were then proper subject OF
taxation. and we tried % collect the heavy
revenue that We think can Dee collected from
these same beds which are now depleted.
medium dredging schooner had 10 pay $50 Tor
taking a single cargo. Every tonger was taxed
on his sales. every steamboat. railroad and eX-
press company that carried oysters IN the
shell or opened had 10 pay a tax Of three cents
a bushel OF gallon on all oysters carried by
them.
That every dollar Of this tax might be col
lccted we had our inspection districts with
chief inspector and deputy inspectors and
sub-inspcctors we'll boarded and clothed
with all the powers of magistrates, shenhs
and treasurers. and backed by an oyster navy,
with a commodore and captains armed equip
ped and prOylslOned according 10 law. Ihe
result is a matter of recOid. The Governors
messages and the Auditors reports are con-
tinued narratives of hopeful expectations and
yexatous dlsappointments Old laws were
changed for new and more effective laws. but
the result was the samoa revenue diminish
ing with the yield Of the oyster beds. First
one STEAMER WIZ ~plN anu ll'u uuDtutI. iIfi
the salarlcd officers of inspectors. deputies
and sub-inspectors were abolished. all these
mighty forces going down before the grasp Of
the depicting tongs and the sweep of the
effective dredgcs. The depletion OF the
natural rocks has gone on until their c0ndl-
tion has caused alarm and brought about
the present agitation.
There are thousands upon thousands Of
acres of barren bottoms such can never be
natural rocks. These grounds belong to the
State. and they are our hope for the future.
Are not these barren lands valuable assets,
and will they not become more valuable IN
the course of time2 Should not the State hold
on 10 them. OF II she parts with them now.
should she not demand q very large price for
them?
Just how valuable they are may be seen
from the comparatively few acres taken up.
The present rental Is not onerOus. and II these
lands were as valuable as many suppose there
would not be a vacant acre IN the State to-day.
The oyster planter is forced 10 become ten
ant AT will and with blind confidence TO throw
thousands of dollars overheard and trust 10
luck and the future. \ rich man can tako
these chances q poor man who bOrrOws can
not We want a law that will give every citi-
zen q chance. policy that Will give security
90 every legitimate Investment No State can
bc prosperous where the relation between II
ard its citizens is that If landlord and tenant
No development could come 10 Virginia had
NLt utlu ucI lulutldl ltill@. dilil lftfItl them
10 OPP rators al a rental. however small. No
company would construct railroad upon
vested right OF way. 4 wclleoverned State
derives It's income from the property of It's
citizens and the wealth Of the State Is e1-
actly IN accordance with that of the people.
The Iidewater people only want these recog-
nized principles applied 10 the settlement Of
the oyster question. There will be neither
peace nor prosperity until this Is done.
What would yOu advise ~ To the disposition
Of these barren and abandoned lands,
would advise their sale under perpetual
franchise for the cultivation Of oysters only
al a fixed and reasonable price per acre. 4
perpetual franchise would not change the re-
lation al present existing between the State
and the occupier IL would prevent the land
from being converted 10 other uses. ltwOuld
1t would give the pernanency OF occupation
ton of the business.
Why would you not favor the sale Of these
lands 10 the highest bidder
/ would oppose this for the reason that
such % course would speedily transfer all the
planting ground from the poor 70 the rich.
All classes sl ND have au -0Ia. chance in the
development oi tins industry. Many oyster
farms ar, occupied uy poor men. who nave
had them in occupancy for generation. and
these farms are their sole dependence. Their
labor gave them their present value. To take
| these farms from these poor people would
place them IN the condition of a Journeyman
who had sold his trade. If such thing We're
possible. While the planter desires Nperma-
nency of occupation the State has need for