The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-01-01
suR MOBILE OYSTER BEDS.
Mobile Register

Mobile Register
The Governor OF Virginia has
just sent tn the legislature OF iha:
State a very valuable message re.
lating to the oyster fisheries along
the coast oi Virginia. The sug-
ges'ians of the Governorare based
largely upon The experience Of
Rhode Island and other States
which have thrown intelligent pro-
teciicn around the oyster beds ana
thereby receive a handsome reye.
nue. besides adding enormously 10
The commerce of The oyster region.
Governor Mckinley calls The al
tention Of the Legislature to the
fact that some Of The natural oys-
ter beds have been destroyed. all
of them greatly depleted, and in
stead of yielding a return to The
State and relieving the people of
The State, whose property the oys-
lea beds are, OF taxation, il actually
required the expenditure of &c.
7S7.42 over and above all public
revenues derived from what should
be the greatest source Of wealth
in The State, 10 protect it from
depreciation. Governor Mckinley
concludes by saying The greatest
hope The oyster in Virginia is the
planter, and the planter should be
SO protected as 10 render pruden:
man willing TO embark in the bu.
siness. Tie details of a law snch
as The Governor thinks would
foster the industry is given in the
message. Among The features lec-
commended is the appointment of
a shell.lish commission culling
law such as prevails in Maryland !;
the laying off of len ,en-acre lots
along The coast and larger ones
further out, and the rental for
ten years at public auction ; oys-
tering on the natural beds to be
limited to the months between
April ] and October 1, and not 10
be permitted on Sunday nor be-
fore sunrise nor alter sunset !; Ii
cense tax 10 be imposed on purse
nets pound nets. dredges and pat
ent tongs, whether used en- public
or private bees; oys.erine on pri-
.vate beds 10 be permlttsd at any
time, and a prohibition of the en-
portation of seed oysters from the
State.
The Governor calls attention to
The result of legislative protection
in The case OF Rhode Island. The
oyster beds of Rhode Island had
become so depleted as to be worth
less. Legislation, such as Govern
or Mckinley reccommeds, was
adopted to develop the planning
industry. In 1870, 962 acres had
been planted, the crop from which
sold that year for S6S0,500 more
than 500 per acre, and paid nearly
$4,000 into the State treasury.
At The same rate the more valua-
ble and productive lands of Vir.
ginia, the Governor estimates,
would produce an animal crop
worth $3.50, 100000, and at $40 per
acre rental, The rate charged in
Rhode Island, would pay the State
annually S5,000,000, double The
amount necessary Tor the mainten-
ance of the State government.
In proof of what is possible in Vir.
ginia waters, the Governor cites
the following case. "In 1887 a par
ty obtained from The State of Vir-
ginia he right 10 cultivate oysters
on about sixty-elght acres of bot.
tom in Accomac county. He plant
ed that year 2S,0O0 bushels of oys-
ters at cost Of about 81 200. Since
that time he has been at the ex.
pense of employing a Waterman
10 keep off intruders and his total
outlay to December, 1891, amount.
ed TO $1,000. In April 1890, it was
estimated that there were 10000
bushels on his beds. In December,
1890, il was calculated that there
were about 100000 bushels on the |
grounds, worth at least, 80 or 40
cents a bushel in the market, or
about $4,000. The State receiv.
for the two years ST a year Tor
her part, and the total cost to the |
renter was $1,000"
The only oyster beds Of the State
of Alabama are those along the |
sea coast of the county OF Mobile
and within the bay of Mobile.
Perhaps they are not more limited
in area than OF The State Rhode
Island. II Rhode Island by intel.
ligent care could build up The oys.
ter industry TO such wonderful
proportions, there is no reason why
Mobile beds could not IN time be
made 10 bring large revenue in
to the State aad county treasury
and be developed into commerce
worth many millions of dollars 10
the trade OF Mobile. This question
is OF equal if not greater import.
ance to our sister State, Mississip.
pi.