The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-22
Msj. Ryals and the Oyster Law.

In accordance with my voluntary promise
30 ask no more space to discuss the oyster
question, 1 have maintained silence in
the prevalence of prejudice and misunder-
standing in The mind of the public But
when in your issue of July 10, 1t ID stated in
connection with Maj. Ryals' record
that The oyster law and bis
Sunday excursion bill are the two unpopu-
lar acts, which are charged against him, and
that the oyster law undoubtedly will lose
him good many votes" /, as the ori2i-
nator Of the bill, am compelled, by a sense of
justice, to address the public in vindication
of most faithful, industrious, and efficient
and influential representative of the people
Col W. w. Gordon is chiefly entitled to
the credit of the oyster legislation of 1889.
The amendment of 1891 was framed in con-
fornity with the recommendations of the
oyster commission appointed by the gov
ernor upon 8 resolution OF the Legislature
1t became indispensable to the protection of
the legal rights OF private and corporate
oyster cultivators. who had already paid
their rents into the school fund and re-
turned their oyster lands for taxation.
Without ie they would have been at the
mercy of oyster pirates, who had openly
proclaimed their intention TO steal planted
oysters.
Not one word of opposition had been ut
tered until the bill had passed both branches
of the legislature, although a copy had
been submitted for public scrutiny and a
synopsis of all its features had been pub
lished in the MORNING NEWS. Immedi-
atelY after its passage the opposition
had bill prepared and introduced by
Senator Williams to amend the features
to which it objected. Having been referred
to the judiciary committee of the Senate, of
which Hon. 7. B. Cabaniss was chairman i,
the respective friends of the law, and Of the
bill, appeared before it and submitted
the accompanying subsequent corre-
spondenoe between the honorable chair
man and myself that the bill to
amend the law met with the unanimou
condemnation OF the judiciary committee
after a full conference. In courtesy to, and
at tho request Of Senator Williams, il was
left upon the table instead Of being referred
adversely by a unanimous vote. The re-
cults already achieved by the oyster law
are:
]. The preservation from impending total
extinction Of the oyster In the waters Of
Chatham county aud OF the
state. Such has been the case
in every ms ance where deficient oyster
laws have been enacted. They are in force
in every northern state and nearly in every
southern stats. Maryland owns what were
slve oyster beds in the world, supplying
nine-tenshs Of all tho oysters consumed IN
the United States, aud now she is seeking TO
avert impending ruin by tho passage Of an
effective oyster law.
The Dutch government prohibited oyster
ing In 1870 because IL found the oyster was
disappearing from the animal kingdom of
Holland, and rented out at auction ell its
oyster territory at the mouth Of the Schslde,
in lots of twelve acres, for term OF fifteen
years Lot No. 163 leased in 1870 at $40
cents per acre per annum, and in 1885 at
$92 II per aero per annum. Lot
No. 1888 leased 10 1870 at 81 "A
per acre and in 1855 at 1906 50 per acre
per snnum. (For these and similar data
see "Report of the United States commits
sion Of fish aud fisheries for 1SS4.") While
the methods are very different an increased
value Of the oyster grounds of Georgia may
be expected, and 10 should be borne 10 mind
that they have only been leased for term
Of years. while. for instance they are sold