Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-16
ouR OYSTER INDUSTRY.
Comparison Between Csnperticut and
v,rstnia Pianters--Itstcs OF Taxation.

Comparison Between Csnpecsicut and
virginia Pianters--Itstcs OF Taxation.
GroucrsrxR COURTHOUSE Va, April IA, 1898.
To he Editor of he dispatch
Mr.. Baylor is not quite accurate In At
tributing the development OF the. oyster
industry in Connecticut and elsewhere 10
the fact that accurate surveys OF the DOT
toms were made. Wherever the industry
has developed TO marked degree. the de-
yelopment has been due TO tue security o,
title. The survey IL simpiy means OF
giving permanency and security OF ute.
Connecticut sold a perpetual lease 10 ner
planting grounds for %i.l0 per acre, the
ten cents per acre being charged 10 cover
the cost OF surveying. mapping, &c. linen
these bottoms we're assessed IRON time 10
time rs cultivated and uncultivated
grounds, and regular State late taxation
was charged upon the assessment. The
result has been that the average tax
ON ali grounds under State jurisdiction
has nerer been more than IL cents per acre
and it has been as low as cents per acre.
There are some town grounds that pay
specific tax Of IS cents per acre. The area OF
such grounds Is uncomfortable. The COM
parison between the condition OF the Con-
necticut and Virginia planter Is very
striking. The Connecticut planter pays
81 10 per acre for perpetual lease OF bis
grounds. including surveying, mapping,
&c, and from s TO IL cents per acre an
nual tax to the State. he pays no tar on
planted oysters and no county tar.
HIS TAXES.
The Virginia planter pays On inspector
81 for ecery parcel of ground assigned.
| though the same planter may have dozen
different parcels assigned to him. He pays
the surveyor Is cents per acre Tor survey
| ing. he pays the clerk for recording the
plot, and he pays to the State speclnc
tax of of 81 pei. acre per year WIN the
privilege of holding the ground tor TWEEN
Nv years. Then his planted oysters and
shells are assessed as personal property.
and State, school, and county taxes are
paid upon the assessment. This tax on
planted oysters doesn't hurt those who
| do not make q proper return OF thelr
planted oysters. but il is ON onerous tax
upon some planters. ,
Starfsh and other enemies harass the
Connecticut planters, but he Is more than
compensated by his nearness to the great
oyster market. This fact alone would en-
able him to compete with the. virginia
! planter under similar laws. As the laws OF
| the two States now are, the Connecticut
planter has all of the advantage. He has
| perfect title to his grounds, he has low
| taxes. nearness to market, productive
| waters, and the privilege or using lu-
| proved machinery in taking his oysters at
| any season he may choose 10 work.
DEVELOPMENT.
| The summer is busy season with him.
| Some idea of the development OF the IN
| dustry in Connecticut may be gathered
| from the fact that in eight wears
| after the adoption of the new law slxty-six
| steamers (most Of them built for the eX-
| press purpose) were owned by oyster
| planters and engaged in dredging upon
| private beds; in addition TO supplying
| nome markets and shipping to the West
and furnishing two thirds OF the oysters
| for export to Europe. Connecticut waters
were then and are now furnishing seed
| oysters to the planters along the southern
| shore of Long Island.
| 1t is useless TO discuss French methods
! of oyster culture. The European oyster
| differs radically from the American oyster.
| We can raise oysters cheaper andi IN greater
| abundance than can be done in France.
| The only point that can be made by rerer-
) ence to France is that while government
| oyster parks were not successful, private
| ownership of the parks developed the IN
| dustry greatly. LSee Brooks on the oyster.
Private enterprise stimulated by the
| hope of profit is tho only thing that can
| develop our oyster industry. Permanently
| of title to the planting grounds is essen
| tial to successful private enterprise In oys-
ter culture. l.. q. CATLErT.