The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-28
VIRGINIA OYSTER BEDS.
THE SURREY or THE NATURAL BEDS.
Captain J. ID. Baylor, Who Has the Work In
Hand. Tells N Times" Reporter ofth
Task Which lie Has Before Him.

Captain ]. b. Baylor, OF the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey. has just returned
from Washington, where be has completed
his arrangements for the surveying of tho
natural oyster-beds of Virgins. The United
States Government had consented to loan the
State the use Of a steam launch 20 make the
survey. but this vessel proving % be too small
to house the surveying party. Captain Baylor
has succeeded in securing the service of q
spacious schooner-yacht in connection with
the steam launch.
When | met Captain Baylor last evening
that gentleman most cheerfully and coug-
teously consented to give me an outline OF
the work before him. He stated that the
Legislature during its last session authorized
the ascertainlng of the legal delineations OF
natural oyster beds. subsequently Governor
Mckinney and the Board OF tho Chesapeake
and its Tributaries requested the Federal
Government for the detailing Of an officer
from the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey. This request was granted and Cap
tain Baylor detailed for that purpose. The
same department also consented to furnish
free Of charge a sailing vessel well equipped
for the making OK the survey. and the yacht
Palimers was detailed for service. The
United States Fish Commission rendered free
Of charge the use of the steam launch Can
vasback and the services Of an engineer
and cOxWain.
TRACING THE BEDS.
Considerable work in the way of tracing the
natural oyster beds has already been done by
the United States Fish Commissioner, and
Captain Baylor will hereafter work in unison
with State Fish Commissioner DR.. wilkins.
The task will begin in a few days in AccOmac
county, as soon as the surveying party can be
iar.. rrraA
oyster beds, or the grounds where oysters
grow without the and of man, are common
property of the citizens Of this State after
paying certain State taxes. All bottom out
side OF the oyster beds is open u oyster
planting.
Heretofore, whenever a planter attempted
TO establish a farm. disputes arose IN regard
10 the appropriating Of natural beds b. their
own use, but when the survey IS completed
and copies of the charts Of the natural beds
have been fled in the different courts and
the State archives ali disputes as 10 the rights
of planters and dredgers can be easily ad-
justed.
The boundaries Of the natural beds will be
marked by stakes and buoys where this is
practicable, aud their position Will be accu-
rately determined from fixed points on the
main land. so thet the may be easily replaced
Ia case they should have been disturbed.
DECLINED.
The oyster interests of Virginia, as may be
seen from official statistics collected by the
United States Fish Commission have de-
clined over 50 per cent during the past eight
wears. and Governor Mckinney hopes that by
delneating the natural beds and by encour-
aging the planting of oysters the production
of oysters may be largely increased The
State of Connecticut. by adopting such
policy has Quadrupled her oyster production
in the last eight years and similar results have
been obtained in Rhode Island, New York
and New Jersey. The last-named State for
merly produced much less than Virginia IN
the line of oysters, but at present the oyster
industry of New jersey represents three times
the value Of that of Virginia
Under the law passed by the last Legisia-
ture the county Judge OF each county IS to ap-
point three county commissioners, who snail
have the authority 20 dehneate what are nat.
ural oyster beds. In this line Of work good
deal can be utilized Of what has already been
done by the United States Fish Commission,
and the surveys 10 be made can also be
used by the United States Coast and
Geodetio Survey in still further. perfectlng
their charts OF the Chesapeake and Its trlbu-
taries. The assistance from the Federal Gov
eminent in making this survey will be q large
saving 10 the State. and while II is not ex~
pected that the survey can be completed this
winter Captain Baylor expects TO make
considerable progress before winter wea-
ther sets in Governor Mckinney and the
State Board of the Chesapeake and its
Tributaries take very active interest,in the
work lust about 10 be undertaken and are
sanguine that good results may be achieved
During the extra lsession of the Legislature
no doubt additional laws will be passed
tending 20 q further development and eneouE-
agement of the oyster industries.