The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-12
VIRGINIA OYSTER BEDS.
Ways no DEFINE THE BoUNDhRTEs
The Subject Discussed 10y the Committee on
the Chesapeake and Its Tributaries-A
Chart submitted-sIany suggestions.

Chart submitted-Many Suggestions.
The House Committee on Chesapeake and
It's Tributaries met yesterday afternoon with
Chairman S. J.. wilkins. Of SOUTHAMPTON. as
presiding Offices petition from the oys-
termen WAS considered. asking that the
natural oyster beds he not leased % any one.
but that tax Of 81 per year be imposed for
each. pair OF tongs. 20 be paid TO the oyster
Inspector who is to be elected by the people
for term Of four years Bir. b. Chambers.
Of Westmoreland, explained that the consti-
tuition forbids the leasing Of natural oyster
beds and that the petition. therefore
became unnecessary. The oyster question
was then taken up and thoroughly discussed
Mr. chambers stated that he bad been anxi-
Gus 20 nave the committee meet Oh account
of tile presence OF Captain Lassels, q gentle
man who owned az oyster reseryat il in
Chesapeake bay. and who had been IN COM
VersatlOn with the Governor 90 the subject
n the forenoon. Mr. Chambers submitted
Chart of the coast survey %. the state OF
Connecticut, showing the natural beds ana
the planted oyster beds laid of IN cileroDt
cOl0rs. He eXpiaiIeI that the survey Lad
been made some time 40 by 81 niled states
engineer hy request OF tie state authorities
and that every oyster bed would he FOUND on
the chart. Recently "a simllsr survey lad
been made oil the asst OF North Carolina.
and he WAS DESTROYS 20 submit. TO tic commit
tee the proposition 20 have q chart drawn OK
the irgiula waters. The Governor had been
seen on tie sub ect and suggested 70 the IN
mlftee 10 request their chairman to send
communication to- the Navy Department or
the cderal Government % inquire III the ser
vices OF IA nited states engineer could event
ualy be obtained without any extra charge 20
tie State TO make a survey OF the oyster
grounds Oh Virginia and 20 draw a chart CIV
ing the exact location az tho natural beds ana
those OF planted oysters. This survey
could then be made ON board o-
the steamer Chesapeake without any extra
expense and the Governor would detail the
steamer for that purpose If the General AS
sembly should $50 direct. All the natural beds
should be staked oil by buoYs % prevent
tOngmeu hereafter from trespassng ou the
planted oyster beds. which are PRIV re prop
ertv. The communication 10 the navy ne
partmeut would have 90 De submitted %
Congressman Jones 10 be presented uy nm
10 the Secretary " the Navy. ii the latter
should reply fayOraby then q provision ID re-
gard 10 the matter would be inserted DO the
Dill which is to be submitted 20 the General
Assembly.
jig BID.
Mr. Chambers stated that Captain Bassels
was the only man ln tbs state VINO had
plaute oysters on reservation OF $3.50 acres
about five miles ont from the shore ID CAesa-
peake bay. re lad done this with tie e1-
pectatl0n that q similar survey would oe
made as by the State of Connecticut, and that
then his oyster beds would be undi-turued.
IF more persons could be induced u do like
wise 10 would be ol great value 10 the state.
lie added that every body lad usht
to gather Oysters from the natural beds. luJ
that they lad 30 right % stake them ou and
use as tier private property III TIC natural
beds We're not slaked of some OF the tong
men might I'D future years clam the al oih-
ing planted leds after Cine oysters had grown,
10 be natural beds. and would claim harvest
where ey bad not sONrs In tie past good
deal OF trouble had arisen for the reason
that there was l0 boundary line between
planted and natural beds. and tie Governor
had therefore recommended the survey I'D his
OYSTER mee.age Tho Legislature WAS cer-
fanny compelled % DO something definite
i'm the matter and % carry ont one OF two
alternatives. one had been recommended ID
the bill of last session, that amy piece oh
ground that had not yielded remuneration of
n DAVIS work during five consecutive years
should be- turned Ogta as planting ground but
this method would naturally involve
great many Itigalous. The DIN r
course was the one recommended 10y
the Governor. which would n0l threaten any
legal complications. Mr j. T.. Wright. OF
Isle of Wight. thought the difficulty would be
t. determine where tie natural beds begin
and end t0r the reason that the natural rock
changed and wldened every year. u the sug-
cestlon Of the Governor was carried ont end
Jess trouble would arise for the oystergroweIs.
Nr John a. IGbb. OF Gloucester. expire -sed
himself in favor oil the new plan.
and thought that ll the survey was
made tie oyster growers would be
on hand 10 assist in defining tie 5ounda-
ries ol their property Mr. a. j.. NitLroW.
/ Of Bath. conceded with him and tl0u1 ht
that there could ue no harm o. have the Gov
eminent property properly deined. DIT.
| Chamber stated tnat tine whole survey could
be made within three months during the com-
ing summer. Mr Nltlr0w wgs Oh tAe Opiu-
ion that tle United States engineer, vs. o
would bee 0I-luteresteu person. WAS the
proper party to decide al disputes over boun-
| Diary lines.
Captain nassels. when asked for h.soainion,
recommended the plan suggested by Ar.
/ Chambers. and added that the trouble WAS
the proper definition OK the boundary lines.
Ia the EappaAaunock river 2.5l. acres of
planted beds were held by citizens WHO had
/ invested considerable money. ard while there
was no trouble ia that locality difficulties had
arisen in other parts The nlled States en-
/ pincrr should only locate the natural rock
D
/ defined by other persons. Captain
/ Foster. of the police steamer. would
| be o.. great assistance. he knew the
exact location Of all the natural beds. The
oyster grounds were now taxed % cents per
acre. but very little of tine tax was collected.
! because the Inspector was not compelled 20
! dos1. At present no one cared much ln \lr-
! eiuia 70 invest money IN oyster beds because
/ the people did not know what taxes tho Legls-
lature might So Mr.. John 81. Hudgln. of
/ Caroline. suggested that commission of at
least three members be provided for IN the
oyster bin whose duty it should Ue 20 define
what natural rock is. and he thought that
/ Captain Goster should he made one OF the
! commissioners.
on motion of Colonel j. O. JAMES. OF
Go0chnud the chairman was requested 10
confer with Senator Little. tie chairman ol
the Senate Committee on Fish and Game, ~
REGARD t0 the communication to be sent %
the Navy Department.
After some further discussion the committee
adjourned.
ia the Churches sunday.
SUNDAY was the most inciement day If the
winter. and vet the attendance at church ra-
mast all expectation Some of the nlni-teil
report large nsresauons and most of them