The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-07
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
A Letter from Blue Ridge Urging tho Rsn.s
ola Portion Of the Beds.

Of Portion OF the Beds
SraUSToy. Va. Feb. 5-Ihaye noticed With
much interest the various articles which hav.
recently appeared in the Richmond papers 20.
garding our oyster industry and tho amour,
Of revenue which is now being derived from
them.
was in Richmond last week on some hr,.
ness connected with the legislative eesst.,
and engaged number OF representative T,
both House and Senate IN conversation o,
this subject. They all seemed % consider la
message Of Governor Mckinney on tie sgt
Jet as replete with good sense aud iu.. ID
most excellent suggestions.
There can Do no possible doubt AZ 90 hs
ad7isability Of renting out considerable
portion OF the oyster lands of the State 2,
Is well known that every state which has a.,
such valuable holdings AZ We have derives an
| appreclable revenue from them. There can
% no possible doubt as % the prOpretg a
each State taxing all Of It's legitimate r..
| sources for the benefit and relief ot Us i,l.
Yidual citizens IL the state owned mines of
gold. silver or coal It certainly would te BE-.
| CURED by public opinion and the expressed
| Will OF the people % lease on rent them Co BE
best possible advantage. and for the creates.
amount which could De secured. anu taers
! fore III the question Of the oysteE-Deds tlers
| Is a popular demand for the rental Of this .n.
! limited NINE for all that is practicable ana
! just. Surely the comparatively insignificant
sum OF $4,000 OF $4,000 per annum carlos
/ be recognized as anything like the revenue
which should accrue from these Ya.us
lands
The Chesapeake and its tributaries are e7sr-'
where recognized as the best natural 0ysts,
/ beds IN the world. Rhode Island receive. a,
high. | was told. as 5l00 per acre for muca 4
her oyster lands ami J cannot see why t.a-,
should be any question AS % our RECEIVING
good round sum from AZ least 10000
10000 acres of or property. es
men in Richmond argued that even
With the present rental %. twenty tive rer,.
nor acre the oystermen were not maxim,
much OF a success As far as this s en-.
cerned we have nothing 20 do. There ga
men of experience and money who have aal
can make oyster-tarming success. ana w.0
are willing 10 pay well for the opportunity
therefore why not let them reno t.e sn.s
/ and assist materially IN meeting tae taae.
clal burdens OF our state. % "a man c.l.
succeed while paving twenty-five crs
an acre and working about aol.s
the number of acres tor when is pays E..
should quit the tusiness and voluntary
allow US 10 rent the beds 90 some. -g
will pay proper rental. ana Wlo cl- e'.4.
lish remuneratiye business
/ was also reminded that tho uresen, ns
termen paid q large persona. tax on t.e.r f...
sells and other necessary properties USED ID
this pursuit. This 0f course is true.
the beds are improved and tho industry
up Il will. OF necessity, increase tle i.u
OF vessels and thus enhance the ttate r-
ues and consequently add immensely On Ot
revenues.
/ see that General Seth. commander n ts
MARYLAND oyster fleet rec lmmenis ll . 81.
cent report the promotion oi tne ill-.,
planting. Our State holds with ll4-
concurrent jurisdiction anal right over e.r'aa
waters. and whatever j. good TOT Der in. .f.,
must be desirable tor Us. he OIL WI
introduced Dy Senator iiuit PROVIDES l.f
renting OF 30 O00 acres 40 50 per acre
alone. while only renting about one-tllr.a .
of our lands. would WELD about o. ...
crease In revenue Can any citizen o. Pa
cinia doubt the wisdom of this measure.
The Norfolk Landmark has giyel tae
iecta thorough canvass and Do % sl.e.a
D. conceived editorial advances tAe tAr' ,-t
tho OYSTER legislation must Ae bh-e+
the following grounds. First. survey
pIaf of grounds must be made under '
supervisi0n 0t skllful officer Of t.e N
eminent and the state Commission. n'
That long lenses should Boa made at .'s
able price and for as EXTENDED B.
nractieable. IluI. THAT tlo t"A
~ t1e Sfqto oyster rocks should oe ae.....
described and that cu.ung lA" s.A'''' .
that of Maryland De adopted
This occurs 70 me as sound, fea7 nan.
/ and emiuently proper augge-ll. ID ..'
4 which / believe VIII To read VITA ue.'-. F.
the people Of our otate.
am aware Of the opposition WHICH 'Ae
, from the Tidewater section regara
question. but am satisfied that the i4e. e'
of the Legislature. especially nov
every single source oil revenue A
be tosterod and husbanded VIII n. a-..
themselves 20 Oo misled n thus matter
trayed into neglecung tho proper Ah---.-
OF this important subject
The entire state is vitality Interested 3D.
every tax payer OF the tomInoh"eA A'
right 90 demand that tine oyster ued5
vvnat thew can toward the relief OF oXcessN
taxation.
From our mountain ranges and at of
inland counties will and should come
tive demand for tins ies.5a'
10 ia our right. and we
be negligent of our own interests should
permit TINS time Co pass without securing q
seasouablo advantages which lfOUleh
placed within our reach. ana Tor t-e e- ..i
Of which we are now 80 much DO need.
The oyster industry ia this state is yeaf
year deieriOrating. the expenses OF AA.Nla.
inc our fleet Is IN excess ~ the revenue al
IL IL "a fact which / consider Deyonn a
that positive and vigorous action should D..
, / be taken
The subject is very important AMI -.
discussed one IN this section and our lt
await the action of tho General hieA.
confident that our representative WILL '' h
that is possible IN reducing our taAatl. a-
q occurring all the legitimate revenues tia-'
t cable from this fertile source.
BLUE RuaE