The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-04
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
SUBMARINE WEALTH OF VIRGINIA
ABLY DISCUSSED.
What IL Amounts TO at Present and What II
Should Amount to-Trade in Bivalves in
Connecticut and This State Compared.


not fully realize the value OF the vast
public domain. which. although covered
by the tide, is embraced within her ter
ritorial limits.
This Is strikingly illustrated by the
fact that they have permitted her oyster
interests to decline steadily so that not
much more than half as many dollars
are distributed amongst her people from
the sale of oysters as were ten years
ago.
In 1850 ;2,2lS,376 worth OF oysters was
sold from Virginia waters, and only
N,S36,0l2 in 1885, (See page 2S6 Of Statis-
teal Review OF the Coast Fisheries Of
the United States, published by the
United States Commission OF Fish and
Fisheries, 1917
on page 2s6 Of the Statistical Review,
from which these figures are taken, we
find that the people of Connecticut re-
allied $5S6,625 from oysters In 1880 and
N,O2,259 in 1888, a decline OF about 50
per cent. in one State and an advance
Of about 800 per cent in the other
That these figures are essentially cor
ret cannot be denied From statistics
collected by the State officials of Con-
necticut we find that s1,232,146 were re-
allied from oysters from May l. 1888, to
May J. 1889. These State figures are a
striking confirmation of the correctness
OF the data collected by the United States
Commission Of Fish and Fisheries. They
will be found in the Connecticut Bureau
of Labor statistics for 1890, page lie.
No Virgnian who has the material in
terests OF his State at heart can fail TO
be impressed by a comparison OF the
conditions Of the oyster interests Of his
own State with that of the same in
terest in Connecticut
That much feeling is developed in Tide
water Virginia whenever the oyster in
terest Is under discussion is unfortunately
too true. This should not be the case.
The aim OF every practical man should
be to consider calmly what can be done
to save this valuable industry from de-
struction. Such a result must affect the
people who live in the oyster region
much more than the people OF any other
section of the State.
When there is under consideration an
Industry from which a few years since
the people Of the State realized yearly
over two millions If dollars (Which was
spant among them). where they now
realize more than one million, the ques-
ton Of raisng State revenue from that
industry should be a secondary consid-
GRAFTON. To build 1t I'D, and save it from
destruction should be the aim OF our
lawmakers.
II Is y woll-estahiShed principle OF
popular government that no law can be
properly enforc I'd unless il should receive
the approval and support OF the majority
of the reople who are affected by that
law Public opinion can. override any
h.. f,to q np0TtlH
so bold and self-reliant as the oyster
mon is involved. this is the case TO
striking degree.
The hone Of suggesting some method
Of saving the oyster industry and building
n IN shall be the motive Of the writer
in publishing the articles he proposes 10
write upon 1.-THE States Submarine
Wealth"
"The greatest good to the greatest num-
ber'' is the humanitarian aim or govern
ment. This principle should never be
lost sight of in discussing the interests
of so large q body Of men as are engaged
In Clustering In Virginia waters. In TINS
State 1857 persons were directly
engaged in oystering in 1888, while
I'm the same year the number engaged
both directly and indirectly was 9,4if
(See pages $50 and 351 of Statistical Re
view of Coast Fisheries Of the United
States. 1S9D.
The writer, in his twenty years expe-
rience as a coast survey officer has often
been called upon to share the hardships
and dangers of the class from which the
oystermen come. He has known them
from the Bay of Fundy TO the Rio Grande
river lie has frequently been the re-
cipient Of their hospitality. Bolder, more
self-rellant, more generous people do not
live They are Injured TO hardship and
exposure from boyhood lie force of cir
cuInstances has taught them to be cool
and collected in the hour of danger for
their own safety often demands that they
should be so. Strong in their friendship,
bitter and relentless in their hatred they
are a body of men from whom heroes
have sprung. No one could live long
amongst them without feeling for them
and with them.
Virginia and Connecticut have been
purposely selected in making a cOmparl-
son of the oyster industry by States.
In Virginia the decline has been greater
than in any Of the great oyster producing
States. while in Connecticut the advance
has been far greater than In any state In
the Union. (See page 2S6 OF the Statis-
tical Review Of the Coast Fisheries OF
the United States. lS9l).
Before we compare the oyster legsla-
ton Of Connecticut with that Of Virginia,
or credit each with the great advance In
the one case, and the rapid decline in
the other. we should see If there are not
great natural causes at work-causes
which are beyond the power Of any legis-
latiye body to control.
Let US first look at the oyster areas
of the two States, and compare their rela-
tive productiveness.
That the Chesapeake Bay and its tribu-
taries are peculiarly favorable for the
development Of the oyster has been recog-
nized from the time OF the earliest set
Elements on this continent. Thousands
Of bushels Of Chesapeake Bay oysters
have been sent TO Connecticut waters 10
be planted. At New Haven about 100000
bushels OF Southern oysters are planted
each spring for fall and winter use. Not
more than one half Of the oyster business
of the State Of Connecticut centres in
New Haven. CSee pages 100 and JIG Of
Connecticut Bureau Of Labor Statistics,
1890.
The Virginia oyster beds are free from
a peculiarly destructive enemy. which be-
sets the Connecticut beds. This is the
star-Ash. The species which attacks the
oyster is practically unknown In Virginia
waters II is estimated that s5l5,G50 worth
of oysters were lost through the star
fish alone in Connecticut from May !,
1888, to May /, 1SS9-almost one half of
the gross sum realized from the sale of
oysters (See page III. Connecticut Blu
reau OF Labor Statistics, 1880.
The winters of Connecticut are more
severe than those of Virginia, and the
destruction of oyster beds from ice and
storms must be greater. 1t is estimated
that $2S, 100 worth of oysters were lost by
storms alone in Connecticut in the year