The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-17
ment. The thermometer at various places
IN the town this morning st 9 o'clock
showed tho mercury at thirteen below zero.
Sad Plight OF the Oystermen-An Appeal
for n Change In the Law.


WHITE MARSH, VA. Jan. lisp scial
For nearly two weeks the ground ha'
been covered with snow. and the lovers
OF sport have enjoyed the finest sleighins
ever known i'm this section. Many people
| contend that thus far this has been the
severest winter we have had since 1881
York river has been frozen over several
times In the morning nearly as low
as Gloucester Point and Yorktown. n
| thing not known here for years Along
the shore the ice r. thick enough 20 bear,
ard people walk backward and forth 10
some Of the oyster vessels. watch-boat9
and houses. Much un6 aSincss Is felt lest
some OF the watch-bcats. and watch
houses. too. be carried away by the Ice
when IL breaks up.
The watchmcn are all ashore, as oysters
cannot be stolen as long as the ice holds
on. so there is little danger OF loss OF life
II any accident come TO the houses or
boats. Many OF the oystermen are In a
pitiable condition. Owing to the bad
weather they have not been able to work
more than two days since Christmas or
course they spent what little money they
had for Christmas things. &c, and now
they can scarcely manage TO get come
thing to eat. with no immediate prospect
Of being able TO so TO work. Nearly every
one Of them you meet is anxiousiy induir-
Ing whether or not they will be allowed
to oyster longer than the LIST OF April.
When told that the time cannot be ex-
tended without an extra session OF the
Legislature. and that there will be no
such session unless il is called by tho
Governor, they as eagerly inquire into The
probability OF his being influenced 10 DO
so. IL would certainly be an act OF
charity towards all the oystermen Of
Virginia for the Governor to call an extra
session, In order that the time for taking
oysters from the natural beds may be *
tended. If His Excellency could see for
himself. and all the other sections OF he
State not interested I'm the oyster indus
try could appreciate the real situation Of
the poor oystermen. the LEGISLATURE
would doubtless be convened in extra
session as soon as possible
In the best wintsrs we eyer have n is
about all the oystermen can do to make
buckle and tongue meet from the LIST
OF January to the 1st OF April. They can
never average more than half their time
at work during the months of January.
February and March. Such a winter az
this they will be particularly fortunate II
they can average One-fOurth The result
VIII be that, without a change of the law.
they VIII find themselves on the LIST OF
April without dollar to live on during
the lIVe months closed season, and at least |
one-half of them with nothing 10 d. Be- |
sides, the Legislature never passed the |
law as 1t now stanos, fixing the beginning |
Oh the closed season on the LIST day of |
April The bill, as reported by the Joint
committee. fixed on the 18th OF April. and
y was never amended In that particular
~ either house. Either in copying or en-
;rossing the bill the LIST was substituted
or the 10Th accidentally. This, the oytcr-
men contend, should be a sufficient reason
Why the Legislature ought to meet and
'orrect the error which operates 20
iarshly towards them.