The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
SECOND LETTER FROM CAPTAIN
BnLOR on THE SUBJECT
Tho States Vast Submarine Wealth Dis
cu.,ed-The Effect of the oyster Laws.
The oyster in It's Natural State.

II was shown in a former letter pub
lshel i'm The Times, December 4th) from
carefully selected national and State sta
tis.... that the Connecticut oyster in
t.r..t had advanced 262 per cent in eight
years while that of Virginia had de-
cu.I 40 per cent within the same pc
r.1 ID was proved that on an oyster
area less than one-seventh Of that Of
Virginia. OF far inferior quality, and under
less favorable natural conditions, Con
ue.l.u realizes now each year more
from tr oy stcrs than Virginia does, end
tls ~ st difference in the conditions Of
Nh. oyster industry OF the two states
could only be attributed to difference
IA their oyster laws.
II is the purpose Of this article to
show i'm what way the oyster laws have
hindered the oyster industry In the one
case. and helped it I'm the other
TO comprehend fully the effect Of these
laws. il viii DE necessary to understand
the conditions under which the oyster
s. found in its natural sta.e, and the
method Of its propagation.
The oyster grows naturally in solid beds
or cius efs upon certain bottoms, in wa
ters favorable to its Development. These
natural beds and clusters may, under
favorable conditions, be greatly extend
cd by artificial means, which process
requires IN expenditure Of human labor
ana capital These agencies can Only be
brought into play when made secure In
th.r results.
The oyster was found in natural beds
or clusters i'm the waters Of Virginia by
the first English settlers upon her shores
il was an easy and ready source
from which food might be obtained for
mra struggling with wild nature for a
subsistence.
The privilege Of freely gathering oys-
ters from these natural beds and clusters
was 40 more denied one English settler
ly another than was the privilege OF
hunting game in the forest. These were
The comon rights Of the first settlers.
This is usage in all new communities.
AS man advances in civilization the policy
SIS to assign 10 the individual everything
susceptible OF ownership. Thus only can
human energy and enterprise bee encour-
sc.d the material wealth of a country
l.r-f. 20. opportunity for the ran de-
vaormut Of mind and body obtained,
and what is called civilization made pos
abe.
So Ions as men are left free TO wander
over the territory of country WhelAer
81 d.. land or water, % live by ishins
and hunting. and are induced TO do noth-
ir- hv sustained Individual effort 10 IN
c-ear. tine natural products of land or
Water SO long will the people remain
poor.
Tla fact that all were, at one time
r.. to hunt over the land, did not pre-
Nat Tie State from assigning TO the IN
du1ua Wnder well-dehned condllohs)
Oil. right TO appropriate for his own use
log part Of her territory that she chose
% assign 20 MIN.
ws. State should have the same right
o. aei,n 20 the individuals (under proper
trcuOns) any part OF her territory
covered by wafer even though at one
Time a1 of her citizens were free 10 hsh
AID oyster over IT,
This principle mas been so clearly rec
o.rfzol that the states OF New York
and Connecticut. for Nuisance, have as
signed TO The individual a perpetual fran
CHS. i'm territory covered by 1athoms OF
water for the purpose of planting ana
cuIfiyafing shell fish. Or :. OF New
York l.. 1881 Chap. so, page looy' An ~, ~ !
entitled AN act establishing q Ht"lc 9iiO. =
fish commission 0or Connecticut p"aaoH
the General Assembly at its January seS-
sion a. -. 1Ssl)
These laws have been sustained by the
highest courts of these States. TO say
that thousands of acres. which. though
covered BY water are yet capable 10y
nu expenditure Of human ener8y), OF
Irolucine an abundant supply of Vaiuablo
food and OF bringing large sums or
money into State are ID remai IN an
uuIroductive condition, because all were
free az one time to oyster and fish over
them would seem the height Of folly IN
this practical, progressive age
Tie writer has dwelt fully upon this
part OF his subject. because he believes
that If the oyster industry Of Virginia Is
ever 10 be built up and saved from GER
tain destruction IL must be by the ac-
ceptance and cheerful acquiescence IN
Tic principle enInciated by majority
OF her people and by majority or the very
people VINO are directly interested In the
oyster industry.
Let this prime lie be one clearly rec
oenized and uRequivocally accepted, ana
# VIII be an easy matter 70 deal with
the oyster industry, and 70 so deal with
u that = majority Of 9,47 persons en-
gagged In 1855, directly and indirectly, in
eystsrtnE In Virginia, will be more bene~