Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-07
The oyster in Lepislative Halls.

u6 OtclCl III
The DISPATCH has never INDUCED the
hope that within the next five years the
oyster bottoms Of the Commonwealth may
be relied upon to Weld much net revenue.
The oyster industry is languishing, and
one of the first objects Of the Legislature
should be to give it new life. and as 1t
prospers our revenue from it should in
crease.
But the people of Virginia have the right
20 expect. and they do expect. that this val
liable property shall be made to yield forth
with enough money to sustain the oyster
feet and pay all the expenses OF the col
lection of the Commemorative dues, and
leave some surplus in the Treasury.
Depressed as the oyster industry is by
reason of the despoilment of the natural
beds. and the propensity of the planters
TO hurry their oysters into market when
not more than half grown, there are men
of means, citizens of Virginia, who will
give us a very large annual rental tor bot
toms which now produce no net revenue
at all. This at least shows that these bot
toms are worth something. 1t will take
very able argument to remove this impress
sion.
The time-honored custom has been to
allow residents TO take up water-honts
suitable for planting. the Commonwealth
charging them a small rental. Hith-
erto the leasehold has been short and in
secure. but now there is no doubt at all
that the Legislature will extend it, but
whether for twenty years. as has been pro-
posed, depends upon circumstances. III
the two houses could see their way clear
to the making of good bargain as it were,
no doubt they would be only too glad to
pass law which would give quie'us to all
this agitation. But you NAV be sure that
they will not tie tho hands OF the Com
monwealth for two decades, unless there
is clear prospect of increasing our rev.
enue.
II seems to us that the way to secure the
long leasehold and the other concessions
desired is to agree to make the bill so un.
mistakably TO the interest of the Com
monwealth that there can be no doubt as
to what the General Assembly ought to
do. With good, long leasehold we may
expect TO see men of money putting their
capital into oyster-beds, and in many other
ways working to revive an industry which
ought TO BRING to Virginia thousands OF
dollars where it now brings hundreds.
1t has been stated repeatedly that in
many cases where planters rent fifty acre.
OF bottom from the Commonwealth, they
have as much as 100 stsked off. In the alb
sence of actual surveys mistakes will OF
course, occur, but the fact that few per-
sons bave been found to pay for 100 acres
and get only fifty goes far to arouse suspl.
cion that the law has not been well adj
ministered in some counties. In any bill
hereafter passed stringent provision
should be inserted on this subject.
So, too, with reference to the payments
made by tongmen. In many cases the law
has been openly disregarded.
Now, let US pass law that will be fair to
the Commonwealth and fair to the oyster
men-a law that will be 80 satisfactory
that the question will be removed forever
from the legislative halls.
Another thing which we have more than
once referred tot will not do to talk TO
the up-country members as il they are in
capable of understanding this subject.
They are deficient in knowledge of oyster
culture, but they are men of business. and
the business and legal aspects Of the SUBJ
ject they are as well qualified TO judge of
as any of their fellows are.
The DISPATCH has never gwen any coun-
tenance to the suggestion that the oyster
bottoms should be put up at auction and
knocked down to the highest bidder
resident or nonresident. No such bill
will be seriously pressed. II pressed it
will fail. The citizen, living in the oyster
districts who have always made their
livings IN part by the oyster-business
should be given the first opportunity to
take up these lands in certain quantities
and at fixed rentals. After this is done
any land not 80 disposed Of might be
auctioned of to non-residents or TO others.
provided that sufficient safeguards can be
devised to protect the interests of the
public.
The moment is opportune for the pas
sage of a sound and sensible oyster-law.
but it is necessary that the two sides TO
the controversy should approach each
other with concessions and compromises /;
in other words, give and take"