The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-07
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
The Opinion OF Coast Survey officer On That
Subject.
Editor OF The Times:

Editor OF The Times:
No more important subject will engage the
attention Of the present Virginia Legislature
than the oyster question.
How Virginia could have permitted the
enormous source OF wealth. which she has IN
her unleyeloped oyster lands. 10 lie dormant
so many years mainly Tor the want OF eHclehs
oyster laws is beyond the COMPREHENSION OF
one who has had the opportunity OF studying
the subject which nineteen years OF expert
ence IL the survey Of our coasts necessarily
gives -,
From the deep concern which feel 10 ell
that affects the material interests OF this. my
native State / am moved 10 70 out OF my
way - second the Governor and the pres IN
the stand they are taking upon TINS vital
question. That It IS one which can Dc no
longer ignored the most superficial study q,
tie oyster statistics, taken from the Natlonsi
ledger Will prove
These statistics publish to the world the
fact that the oyster interests Of Virginia de-
clined over 50 per cent. in the short period IN
teryening between 1850 and 1885 while those OF
some OF her sister States, with less than one
fourth of the oyster area OF Virginia and WIN
oyster lands Of far inferior quality. nave
nearly doubled in the same time. leaving r.
GINA far behind in the race.
Why should this great difference exist:
! propose % suggest briefly what conceive
10 be the main causes OF this state OF things
and the remedies FOR u.
In the Arst place Virginia has never en-
couraged oyster planting as she ln ght have
done She has never made the oyster farmer
sufficiently secure in his oyster farm. she
has never clearly defined what is legally a
natural oyster bed. sage makes the latu-
raj oyster beds. under certain conditions. the
common property IF the citizens Of the State. ,
A shell-fsh commission should be created
when the law has defined what natural
oyster bed is each one should 10 clearly de-
lneated upon the charts Of the coast by ac-
tual SURVEYS and the principal boundaries
should be securely marked by stakes or
buoys Thanks to modern engineering in
struments OF precision and the splendid tri-
angular systems upon which our National
coast charts rest. this work can be done as
accurately Is II these beds were part OK the
main land.
This survey should be made as exhaustive
As possible and at the same time al private
rights ia oyster lands which already exist
should be clearly defined, marked out and
recorded.
After the charts have been completed they
should he published and the local charts dis
tributed in all the coast towns and posted IN
C nspicuous places. They should then be
open 10 criticism for certain fixed time. and
where there is reason 10 believe that the sur
locality should be ordered. This survey
should then be accepted as final
by the shel-fsh commission. which
should be created. There should be no
appeal from the decision of TINS commission
IN regard e. boundaries. natural beds. Ac., ex-
cept to the SUI eIor courts of the State.
This course has been found necessary IN all
the States which have developed and are de-
yelOpng their oyster lands. With such
shell lsn commission and with the natural
oyster beds and private oyster grounds
clearly staked out and duly recorded. Virginia
will have no difficulty IN gradually dispOslng
of her 500. 900 acres OF frst-class oyster land -
a public domain as splendid rs any now held
by her sister States of the West. The Oyster
can DO prohtably cultivated in Virginia
waters and whenever there IS profit. enter
prise and capital Will not be wanting.
Under what system 1t would toe best for
Nirlnia % dispose of her oyster lands may
be al open question nder present cOndl-
tons there are apparently three distinct IN
terests-tne interests or the planter, the
dredger and the tOngman. Each has his
rights which should be protected. The
modern humanitarian system OF government
holds that the inst duty of the government Is
TO protect the many; protect the poor man.
and the rich man can easily take care Of him.
self
The marvellous DEVELOPMENT Of the West
have by special legislation encouraged the
poor man 10 own the ground which he cult
Yates. The rich also have prOiited by this
system. il has made the great railroads and
the great Western cites possible. 10 would
seem 20 he wlaefor Virginia % pursuea some
what similar course with regard to her puD-
lie domain. her 500. 900 acres If undevel1ped
oyster lands. Her first duty IS 70 encourage
the tongman 90 own bis oyster Jed. near
his own home. TO be worked as ms own in
terest may dictate rather than o. seek a pre-
cariOus subsistence on distant natural oyster
beds which are the common property of uanr.
Agriculture would never have fourished un-
der such IS TEN. nor Is II possible that Cys-
ter planting should.
Judging from my observations I should
suggest that II uld be well for the state O.
sell It's oyster lands near shore say within a
twO-mile limit IN small tracts f ten acres 10
each member II tie same family. Beyond
the two mile limit where the oyster luld
not be planted prOhtably IN small areas. the
State might dispose az Its lands IN larger sec
II rs. rginia has thousands of acres OF
such lands which could be disposed Of so that
the large planter and dredger could find
profitable employment for hls capital. and vet
not monODollZe what might prove valuable %
the small ster farmer.
In order that the land should not be taken
up for mere speculative purposes. the safe iy
individual who takes the land should be- re-
quired 10 plant a certain number OF bushels Of
oyster shells each year 1T the proper season.
and not be permitted 20 sell II for limited
number OF years upon condition of reyersl0n
L. the tate. 30 that the poor man NAV realize
what the value OF ms property may 10 before
lie can part with II. Beyond this the State
cannot safely 20. This much Is due 70 those
whose principal means of subsistence have
been de lved from our natural oyster beds.
Z he principle has been legaiizeI in our home
stead exemption laws.
IL won De better 70 seems % me. for the
State t. make a cond tlonal sale of her oyster
lands lthe price per acre being iI1ed by the
commission SO low as 10 encourage the poor
est man : engage IN Oyster planting than 20
rent the land for series 0i years The his
tory OF all industries proves that the strongest
motive tor Improvement and de eOpm0nt Of
property is individual ownership. The Oys-
ter farm will prove no exception 10 this rule.
When the lease Of rented oyster land would
be on tho point OF expiring the renter would
exhaust his oyster-beds. Just as the renter Of
Agricultural land would do under like circum-
stances. ! believe in the long run the State
would derive larger revenue from taxing ITS
highly-deyeloped oyster lands under an
equitable system OF assessment than Il could
possibly obtain under a rental system. Agri-
culture has fourished best under such a sys-
tenn aud why not oyster farming.
There Is no reason why the interests Of all
planter. the dredger and the
not be properly protected
by suitable oyster law. now that the Gov
ernOr has fully aroused the people Of the State
to the importance OF this question in his spe-
cial message. The wisdom ot their represen-
H--HN