The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-06
THE OYSTER PROBLEM.

Inc Legislature at its next meeting will
nave no more important matter before il for
consideration than the oyster question, and
tue necessity for proper understanding Of
'ne subject - becoming daily more and
more apparent. Governor McKin.
ney' as was shown in remarks
made oy him TO a TnEs reporter pub.
''shed IN yesterdays paper. shows that
ne Is iully alive to the necessity Of proper
protection Of the delicious biyalyes for
which our waters are ia tly noted. So
''"' 'hey may be not only preserved, but
''"l the state may derive. ~ she
should, handsome revenue from them. As
w says the matter is a very difficult one
70 ueai with because Of there being so many
u'ne'~ht Interests to De- consulted. The
l''nlers on one side claim that they IRE Dee
Ing injured by dredgers and tongsmen,
"a''e Tue latter claim tnat they have GER
tam rights which the planters are bound %
respect, and the great point 10 De- solved is
'ne satisfactory adjustment Of Be din.
custies between these two.
Inc Governor, however. evidently struck
tue keynote OF the situation when he said
thai he thinks the first and mos, important
sep TO be taken is 10 have a proper aud
careful survey and location Of The oyster
grounds Of the State made. when tins is
done the next step is 10 offer the planter.
sue" encouragement as will indnce them
70 spend their money and enable
tnen to conduct their business probably
aud inteiiigently. This can be Elected by
leasing TO them for "A term Of years certain
Weil-dehned portions Of the oyster lands.
and seeing that they are sufficiently protect
ed ~ their rights. II this Is done there viii
Dc no difficulty in finding planters
ready 10 invest their means ill.,
orally in oyster culture, and will
ing to pay the State not only twenty
hVe cents an acre, but anywhere from one
To- hve dollars an acre for the privilege.
This, az was stated in the TINES some
weeks ago, was gathered from CONVERGE
ton recently had with a well-known citizen
Of Gloucester, who has given much intel.i-
gent consideration TO the oyster question
and knows whereof he speaks.
As for the dredgers. 1t seems that sat'-
factory, or at least reasonable, adjustment
of. their claims could be arranged There
VIII be always certain lands upon which
they can dredge, and if thog are at all care
ful and not over greedy, it seems chat then
dredging can be made profitable lo
themselves and useful 90 tAc state.
II they are required TO put back
the smallest seed, and 20 throw info
the dredging grounds an abundance OF clean
shells, theaomer will steadily grow, and
the oysTr spawn will readily adhere 60 the
latter and rapidly increase. With these
swrestrcti0ns- he observed ON pcnalt
OF withdrawal Of liccuse--it does seem that
the dredgers would be granted every puN-
lcgo they could reasonably ASK. and ~ re
would be no further necessity for ill feeling
or trouble between them and the planters.
one Of the great diilicahies in the way %
a proper solution Of this problem is, it i-
said, the lack of interest taken in 1t by fhc
up.c0uutry members because oyster culture
is an industry in which neither they nor
their constituents are engaged. But oys-
ter consumption is a matter in which both
they and their constituents are all more or|
less interested, and when they do indulge
their tastes for the succulent biyalye
they naturally wish TO get the best
There is, however, a reason far
above any selfish one, which should cause
them 10 look carefully into this question.
for it is a subject in which the entire State
is vitality interested. IL means source of
livelihood TO many of the citizens Of Nir
ginia, and profitable source of revenue Co
the Commonwealth. Iti- t1e duty. thorc-
fore, ofeyery aspirant for Legislative hon.
ors i'm the next General Assembly 20 per-
feet himself in this matter as Ee viii mos
certainly have to pass upon il after his
election.