Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-19
THE OYSTER LINES.
WORK MAPPED OUT BY THE MARY
LAND AND VIRGINIA COMMITTEES.
Disputed Territory in the Potomac River
and ia Pocomeks soand visited-Tho
Rights Claimed by Both Sides.
Especial telegram 70 tho Dispatch.l

Fonr Moxnog. Va. July 1s.--H good fell
lowship and good feeling between the
members of the Maryland and Virginia
boundary-lines committees appointed by
the legislatures Of the two States could
settle the disputes In question between the
two Commonwealth tho controversy
would end in Jiffy. The members Of the
two committees. like brethren, are dwell
ing together IN unity, and the representa-
tives Of both States seem eagerfor peace
fol and final settlement OF all the diff
ferences that have arisen regarding the
bouudary-ine between the two States. In
the consideration of this question II IS
necessary for one in order to be thoroughly
posted TO examine many documents ana
charts. Indeed, many technics and I'M
portant questions have arisen already.
and to these the members of the Virginia
legislative committee have been and are
now giving their most arduous attention.
The Maryland committee are quick to &C
knowledge that the Yirginians are tho best
people in the world, and on the other hand
the Virginia committeeman do not think
any concurrent legislation is necessary to
permit them 10 exclaim, in the language OF
the song, My Maryland, My Maryland"
even though they may not own single
lODt VI kTOuuu VI thO btNhsT ANeN-
mac.
VIEWED THE TERRITORY.
The two committees here viewed the
disputed territory, and now fresh and
cbIrpy from an exhilarating trip to POGO
nloke, TO the Potomac up as far as Plney
Point in Maryland, and across the Chesa-
peake. they are here to tackle the great
questions concerning the boundaries OF
the two States. The Virginia committee
-. tt,tl rho
Hygeia Hotel Hon. X. II. Cardweh,
Speaker OF the House of Delegates, pre-
siding.
FOUR COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Cardwell submitted the following,
which was adopted:
Resolred, That four subcommittee be
appointed. TO whom shall be referred the
following subjects. respectiveiy
First. On the boundary-line OF the 70
tomac river and the fishing rights therein.
Second. On the Pocomoke.
Third. On the culling law.
Fourth. On the report TO be made to the
Legislature of Virginia.
The said committees, except the Com
mittee on the Potomac, which has already
been appointed. shall be composed OF i've
members EACH to be appointed by the
chairman of the Virginia Joint committee,
with the exception OF the committee TO
which shall consist of three members and
be elected by the Virginia joint commit
tee.
2. Resolred, That the said committees on
the Potomac, the Pocomoke, and the GULL
ing law shall have authority to make such
further investigation of the subjects re-
ferred to them, respectively, as they may
deem necessary or advisable, and make a
report in writing to the chairman Of the
"a int. op,1otftaa IN hp QnnSI6prp1
by the full committee at future meeting.
3. Rs0lced, The subcommittee TO pre-
pare q report TO the Legislature OF virginia
shall first submit the report prepared oy
them TO the full committee for revision
and approval.
THE CULLING LAW.
1t will be an easy matter to settle the
culling-law question, as both the Mary
land and Virginia committees fully agree
as to concurrent legislation upon the SUD-
iect. At present the Maryland culllng law
cannot prevent the catching IN the foto-
mac river of young oysters, as the TWO
States have equal fishing rights there.
ROW VIOLATIONS GET OFF.
Very often when person is arrested IN
MARYLAND for violating the culllng law OF
that State he gets q lawyer to draw out
the FIVE legal points. and when they are
presented the man with the young oysters
In his possession can snap his fingers IN
the face of Maryland's law and SAYS;
"You cannot prevent me from catching
Young oysters in the Potomac and you
cannot punish me for having these young
oysters in my possession in Maryland, as
thew were caught in the Potomac (Vir-
GINA waters he will. say, and they are
marketable, provided they are shipped
from that State"
HITCH.
When the question of drawing line in
the Potomac between the States, the
drawing of which line means the acquire
ment of disputed territory, is brought up.
then comes q hitch and snag.
DISPUTED FIsHING-GRoUSDs.
Up the Potomac river about eighty miles
from Old Point there is pretty island
called Blackstone Island. The people on
this island are citizens of Maryland. Those
eligible to the rights OF suffrage put their
ballots in Maryland ballot-box. Between
this island and the mainland of Maryland
there is deep and navigable water. In
these waters the Virginia people have
always claimed and have always exercised
the right of fishing. The Marylanders
want 10 have exclusive right TO these
waters, but TO this the Virginians are not
ready to concede. As to the Pocomoke,
the Marylanders claim that they are en-
titled to the same fishing rights in those
waters as they have in the waters in the
Potomac. This subject the two committees
are now considering this evening. The
Maryland committee has appointed sub
committees as did the Virginia committee,
and these subcommittee will take the
narrow questions that have arisen into
consideration.
MAYOR TAl6OTT, OF DANVIllE.