The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-21
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
sysJECr fully DISCUSSED.
v,,snsnve Review Of This Important
~ with Clear. Comprehensive
and Forcibie Deductions
.rSock. LANCASTER COUNTY, W.;
hfLNf Feb. rs. 1892.

". .. .."UN.N"n w H""
V AIS important question, which ls
t .f, Il, that OF our state debt.
s would be interesting % those
JET with his industry to know
ua .. ol the mode in which Vt Is now
fo ...7 There are, breezy, stated. only
..as az persons dlitcVy interested;
M ..r-er the buyer, the planter and
1r 1be tongor is the most nu-
End Che poorest class. a very large
n'' o tits class, especially on
v.strrn shore. are cOlorGd.
t,o. bv Clustering during the
le we'd by Jaw and by fishing during
.er of the year. He Is frequently
i4e an fhs merchant for his food and
80 Ills house is devoid Of many of
forts of homo and seldom has he
d. d unusually thrifty and saw
usy be Che possessor OF a few acres, OF
convenient 20 the waters edge.
t'l i be- las erected a log cabin or frame
~, with from one to four rooms. He is
r4 industrious. too. whenever he can
Kinds OF w1rk-Oystering and
Hc knows nothing else and cannot
r-.aicd 90 try anything else.
..a.s q his poverty is apparent
r hs daily life and habits
t.rsr. Early in tho morning
n hs canoe 90 the oyster-grounds,
lay is calm aud not too colo ne
" . 1900 T'HFn--H H
., OK So. according AZ he strikes
lunches OF oysters. IL the Wea'her
snowy OF rainy he cannot WORK ana
I.. spends his time 40 the nearest store
..- the weather o. clear up. Aheso
.-. a o curse % the FISHERMAN
a.-r Ell OF them sell mean Tobacco
"a u..ler whisky. ID THESE we
.,.. fe woather-bOund FISHERMAN IDLY
.s eL4 uEe OF weather until II IS time u
.n- home. a poorer II not a soberer
fe started with good intentions IN
morning.. Notwithstanding that IN
lrste-iry season, While the weather
f. calm and suitable for his work,
--a-.to earnings are not much above
lw.ntsr. because Of the low prices
-.s r, owing o. the warm weather. n
f.4tm. when the buyer who can wait for
weather gets lis work IN.
Ts WORK o, IS longer IS laborlous; few
r...-. ars now found on grounds averaging
t.t..r from twelve TO thirty feet Of water
.rrr them. Into this vast depth no
.-.rs Els esvr tongs and gropes about the
u.m until to has collected a pile OF some
re le knows Mt OF until he slowly and
es-s lllrs It 90 the surface and dumps u
,r f I'D. .rg board, there % be picked over
s. il. mIer. q CHAP from ten 10 fifteen years
r1 Ae..ier. moro disagreeable ana dlrtier
,o5l T. wo1.l be- hard 10 find.
The t.rrer depends manly upon two
,...a BUYERS one Of these is the buyer
,fo e... ao.ut from place 10 place IN his
v..-.A schooner or ~pungy-and when
i.ila. ls carries bis cargo O. Norfolk WASH
ir-t.l baltimore. Philadelphia or New YORK.
.r. a eel. le 90 farther north than New
.f -arfher south than Norfolk. The
rI.r trrcr is the home dealer, usually a
son. keeper in the vicinity OF the oyster
rr On every available point Of land
nieWaler where canoes and boats are
fl laro0r g. 10 bo found
country store. filed with poor
. mean tobacco. cheap. tawdry
oil. GOODS. substantial Cape Cod boots
l,i ~ skin coats. II the shop-keeper IS be-
irlsul dee buys the t0nger's oysters. throws
u overheard Convenient 20 his place of
ness and when @ suitable times arrives.
ibis Them in barrels 0rin bulk. No Otherlab0r
rerueude1 ON them than that OF taking them
uf oI the water. No citizen Of Virginia reaps
another cent of benefit from this transaction.
r.sr 20 90 the city % swell the pockets OF the
Gamer and bis employees. who steam, open
sui cn tlem. make tine cans. boxes and BAR
Ie.s. all perform all the profitable labor there
ifr t.a business.
naor ton-er would be glad TO have
t- laws changed so that lie could find
ie-. auelt employ mcnt. but is afraid to ask
F.. t because le is told by the cunning and
ct.. who are living on his sweat and toll
tt 81 tle grounds are rented there Will be
l.tiu. tor him Oh dO. This was the cry of
t.e fountain s|ouatter when the mine WAS be-
l1r opened uaieg his CABIN. He did not realize
tat tle furnace, foundry and factory would
follow.
ln summer time this FISHERMAN 10 a fisher
Iau Wtl hook and line. or net and seine, too
o..e. Wtl the renowned nsherman's luck.
lns tue .lulg tine fishing season IS used up
I-ettF mach as during the oyster season. If
Gle Ua.t.e. ls suitable LIE fishes II unsulta-
DE le waits as usual. If exceedingly thrifty
Le works bis garden or corn patch I'D his lels-
rre moments. bat seldom strikes a stroke Tor
Gle rrnerwho would be glad OF his help, es-
leca.y during the busy season. This mans
condition can be benefited; IL cannot be
v0lfei HIS idle time could be utilized for
DIS benefit and that Of some one else and
l.iI te happier by its results.
Tie store keeper is considered the tonger's
ire-i because be takes the oysters of his
bands generally in trade-when there is no
Other market open to him. usually at a figure
VA.a admits of a profitable margin, and dis
poses u them when q kin Providence makes
fl change he the weather that even oysters
..np from their beds.
Ie buyer does not want the laws changed
ir.ay.0us reasons. lie pays nothing for his
n.llls unless he occupies them the whole
year. and 10 that event, If he IS an honest
hH. as .I|HHA NA AArlA AiUs nr pay AAo tNAhhI
AtH ot twenty-five cents per acre. Why
should le % the tax increased from twenty
Use cents 10 - OF c3t Why should he not
become indignant II "a neighbor rents a large
tai and becomes his competitor not only Ia
i-}lc and ur0pagatlng, but IN canning. box
As and preparing this annoying toOthsome
u.net
Tie present planters with few exceptions
4t -lprenely selfish. There are large tracts
u oyster territory in the possession Of a few
zen Oh the York river, Hampton flats and
'-les river. These planters have enjoyed "a
Lo- poly of the trade IN a very quiet way at
q small revenue 10 the state. They are of
,'le value m their respective nelghbOrhoOds
ie enjoyment OF labor on their oyster
t-. They buy small oysters and shells,
tfs4i them on the bottom and quietly await
..y when the oyster IS called for by our
"sa.oe on the half shell. They have a
tNta.lg and they know II, and, of course.
~ no- want the law changed from 20
's-is per aero to g. or So per acre. which to
} ile .e.s. would be- a small equivalent for
Gre sfl-t monopoly they enjoy. At every
s. go VI tho Legislature they are on hand
/" -s.s tie material rock. and show the
.--l.l legislation that he j. mistaken when
.e ASSERT, tlat an the ground belongs % all
De e.o.e throughout all the state. They
"'.4 lave him believe that every foot OF
's' tttll.ry oN.eI than that they are oc-
SIS natural rock. and should be
sacred O. the public. They all
10 what constitutes q natural rock,
agree That they are not occupying any
oysters 90 not grow always on rocks.
ti ine drsdger would lose his dIedge
,i 4e le threw it overheard and dragged
ill sail by his vessel. The term
..... is rUufuafrr 20 fHA qVeT4pe