Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
be culled where taken prohibits the planting Of
these small oysters in other waters.
PLANTING n rur aprAr opyr~r

be culled where taken prohibits the planting Of
these small oysters in other waters.
PLANTING Is TEE eRxAT OBJECT
aimed at The law will have TO be made indis-
putable upon that point before it can be made
effective upon any, and thus q muddle is raised
At the very beginning. The Aght at present.
therefore, is triangular, the state against two
factions hghting each other and the state. the
planters and those opposed to planting. on the
assumption that taking the small oysters from
the natural rocks for private beds will deplete
the rocks rs rapidly as any other way and de-
prive a large class of oystermen of legitimate
labor. The plea made in behalf Of planting is
that but a small proportion Of the seed oysters
are needed or would be taken for planting pur-
poses. But dredgers take sl-good. bad and
throwing the small and useless oysters into
shell piles, where they die or are burned into
lime. As certain portion Of the year is set
apart for taking seed oysters in Maryland
waters it 10 held that gathering the young for
that purpose should be confined strictly to that
season. Nearly every legislature in the past
twenty years has had to tackle the question
and doubtless all that follow will have to do the
same.
THE VIRGINIA SYSTEM.
The oyster situation in Virginia territory is
still more deplorable. II in Maryland but q
short while back Q commission reported--as il
did-to the legislature as the result of a care
had fallen of SO per cent in three years what
would such commission have TO say in regard
to those OF virginia. She is undoubtedly feel
ing more keenly than any other state the dim
mutton OF her once bountiful stores. Twenty
nve years ago it was estimated by Auditor
Taylor that there were at least COG. 900 acres of
the natural beds or rocks within the limit of
and belonging exclusively to the state. Oys-
ters were 80 numerous in these beds in 1852
tnat 1t was necessary to pass a law prohibiting
harn h,,r nal vr,tl Ii ILL. e.
Gov pierpont, the reconstruction governor,
after the close OF the war was at his wits ends
to raise sufhcient revenue for the needs Of his
administration and he fell upon the scheme Of
taxing the oyster industry. The levy was suffi-
cient to raise what he wanted but SO badly
were the laws framed that the expense Of col
lecting the tax was immense. 1t took S240 to
get $3.6O into the treasury. The result was
not satisfactory and the state began to and
continued realizing lessening revenue as the
natural oysters became scarcer until 1875,
when the law was abrogated for another. So
the laws have gone on changing and the state
receiving decreasing revenue proportion
ately as the rocks were being further exhausted
until now 1t il actually confronted with . de-
felt.
SEED oYsTERs IN VIRGINIA
are a commercial commodity. The area Of
the natural rock within the tidal James has
been the most prolific of any bottom in the
become SO scarce there that the price of seed
oysters there has risen 800 per cent in five
years This advance is q reliable reflection of
prices in other sections. At nearly every point
In the state-except Norfok-where oysters
nave been packed In any considerable quantity
the industry has ceased to exist. Norfolk was
enabled to hold her trade last year by the
persistent violation Of the laws of North Caro-
lima, upon whose waters she drew for her short
age of supplies.
THE PRESENT Law OF THE STATE
holds all natural beds and underwater land in
possession Of the commonwealth, and requires
planters to rent the lands under water for cul-
tlvatlon, and pay an annual rental that is equal
10 TAX upon $50 valuation Of each acre as
well as tax upon the assessed value of their
planted oysters as other property. and in addi-
ton an income tax upon their earnings in ex-
cess OF 5000, if there should happen to be such
a thing as an excess under such drag-net leeis-
lation. Beyond all this tenure can be termi-
mated by the general assembly at any time
without days notice, SO far as legal require
ments are concerned. OF course oyster cult
Walton is a dead letter under such conditions
and all the while the natural supply is being
rapidly wasted away. A compromise measure
was patched up at the session Of the legislature
last winter granting the planter a fifteen years
tenure. but the governor withheld his signature
on the ground OF inadequacy. The next session
will find the legislature tinkering with the
something germane to the necessities of the
situation will be adopted. Gov. Mckinney is
giving the subject thorough investigation and
study, and has paid personal visits to many of
the oyster producing sections, and his message
to the legislature next December will doubtless
subject
THE GREAT TROUBLE
with legislation in Virginia, as also in Maryland
and other states, is that the great majority of
those having the disposition of the oyster ques-
ton and the difficulties attending it in hand are
gentlemen little acquainted personally with the
exigencies of the situation, and their deibera-
tions are pulled and twisted by so many diverg-
ing interests that they feel themselves incom-
petent and therefore reluctant to take bold
and emphatic stand in any direction, and the
result is invariably patched-up or compromise
measure, and which as invariably makes mat
tiers worse.
THE MOST PROMISING FIELD
now contiguous to Washington, if, indeed, not
the most propitious Of any along the Atlantic
coast, is in the territory of North Carolina
from the history Of the experience of
other states, and is not waiting for the
cruel and reckless impoverishment Of the
natural beds to wake up and find the eleventh
hour at hand. The legislature caught time by
the forelock and before her vast natural beds
veyed and set apart for the use of the people in
common, threw open to the world 800 900 acres
Of underwater land, not natural rocks, for
cultivatinS purposes. These she sells at Is
cents per acre under o perpetual franchise for
cultivation. An abundance of seed oysters can
be had from her natural beds at B cents a
bushel, and the taking away of these seed
oysters from the state limits is prohibited. This
method is, judging from the general express
sion Of opinions Of oystermen, probably o
solution of the whole question.
THE INEVITABLE OYSTER PIRATE
has made his appearance q q matter of course
amid the pastures green" Of North Carolina,
but his influence in shaping legislation or in
preventing its being shaped is likely to mis-
carry in this state. Gov. Fowle only a few DAYS
the legislature, gives the protection Of the
oyster special consideration. He recommends
that q yearly tax, based upon tonnage, be re-
quired on each vessel taking oysters, the oys-
tiers to be culled only on rocks or beds, and
that not over ten per cent OF oysters under two
inches long be taken from each bed; that there
be an efficient police force and inspectors at
each oyster center, that owners Of canneries
operating in the state be given the same rights
May l to October l, and that all vessels vio-
lating the law shall be pursued, captured and
the officers and crew punished to the full ex-
tent Of the law. II this line be followed and
prosecuted effectually North Carolina bids fair
to be the leading oyster state of the eastern
shores. Dealers, packers and vessels are daily
reported as leaving Maryland and Virginia ter
ritory for that of North Carolina, which will
perhaps be the better for Maryland and vir-
ginia and not injurious to North Carolinas in
terests if her admirable laws are efectually en-
forced