The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-01-05
NEW SERIES. VOL. II, NO. 90.
VIRGINIA VS.. MARYLAND.
The Oyster Question as Viewed by
Governor Mckinney.

Inc Oyster Question as Viewed by
Governor Mckinney.
Fdom the Baltimore Sun.
| Gov. Philip W. Mckinney, of Virginia
was last week the guest of Mr.. John NJ.
Hood, President of the Western Mary
land Railroad Company. Governor Me-
Kinney is cousin of Mis-. Hood, and
came to Baltimore to attend the we'd
ding of Miss Elose Hood. Governor
| Mckinney is genial and courteous Vir.
gInian, with an intellectual face and a
muscular frame. The Governor is be-
tween fifty and sixty years old, wears a
small gray mustache and has heavy
suit of curly hair of the same color.
Referring to the oyster question, in
which Maryland and Virginia are so
| much interested at this time, Mr.. Nc
Kinney said The committee appointed
on the part of Virginia to confer with
similar committee from Maryland with
the view of settling disputes between
the two States has mot yet made it's re-
port. l have heard the substance of the
report, but am not at liberty to discuss
it publicly at this time. | can say that
in Virginia we have nothing but the
kindest feelings for Marylanders, and it
is the desire of our people that friendly
and satisfactory conclusion will be
reached on this vexed question. l APP
preciate the fact that oysters in the
Chesapeake bay and its tributaries can
not be properly protected until some
joint legislation by Maryland and Vir>
ginia is enacted and its enforcement mn
tually sustained We know that the
oyster beds are fast becoming depleted,
and we also recognize that nothing can
be done to fully protect this interest I'M
til concurrent laws, effective alike in
Virginia and Maryland, are passed.
"This can be made vast and profta.
BILE industry to the two States, but under
existing arrangements there are too
many loopholes for depredators to es>
cape. For instance, Virginia can sell
unculled oysters in Maryland, while
Marylanders can.do the same, thing in
the Virginia markets. have become
much interested in this question and
will endeavor, before my term of Office
expires, to impress some of the views
hold on the Legislature of my State. l
favor the leasing out of the oyster
grounds of Virginia to planters who will
cultivate and enhance the value of the
oyster industry.
my plan is to convince the represen-
tatives of the interior of the State that
by proper enactments they can make
the oyster planting and leasing so prof.
table as to perceptibly relieve the lands
of the State of the burdens of taxation
they are now made to bear. With this
end in view approved last winter bill
providing for survey of all the oyster
lands in Virginia, and the location of al
natural oyster rocks and beds. Our
constitution provides that all natural
oyster rocks shall be reserved for the
public use of citizens of the State. There
fore when ground is leased to private in
dividuals, who so improve and cultivate
it as to produce growth of oysters, the
claim is at once made that the land was
a natural bed and lawsuit is the result.
The law of last winter was intended to
prevent this as all natural rocks will be
located and made matter of record
ing away a mint in permitting the
wholesale destruction Of oysters, a nd l
can promise that Virginia will at all
times be ready to cooperate in preserv>
ing and enhancing this industry, making
it a profitable source of revenue to the
States.'
In regard to the shooting OF Captain
Sterling, of this State. by Captain Gas
kins, of the Virginia oyster police navy,
in Pocomoke sound, Governor McKin-
ney said: Captain Gaskins has been
arrested by the authorities Of Accomac
county. and has been indicted by the
grand jury for unlawful shooting. The
Accomac authorities have assumed jul
risdiction in the matter because the
claim is made that the shooring was
done in the waters of Virginia. II Cap
tain Sterling was not engaged in unlaw
full acts why did he run away when
hailed by the Virginia boat? Is it rea-
sonable to suppose that an innocent
man, conscious of his innocence, will flee
when asked to give an account of him
self? Under the old common law the
very fact of fleeing used to be considered
evidence of guilt. While this is not the
case at this time it is still considered
strong presulnptive evidence that all is
not right