Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-07

nave not tne space 10 cbidtBe oh ene'c
facts as I should like.
OUR WORK SINCE THE LAST LEGIS-
LATURE.
The last Legislature passed n law on
the subject. which was imperfect In many
respects, hut was an Improvement on the
old law. / hope 1t VIII receive a thorough
examination. and that such amendments
viii be made as are demanded by the
present necessities.
J As soon as possible after the adjourn
ment the Board Of the Chesapeake re-
paired to Washington and had confer
ence with Colonel Mcdonald. the United
States Fish Commissioner, and Professor
Mendenhal. of the Coast Survey. These
gentlemen showed great interest In the
work the State was doing. and did AL
they could TO forward her interests. The
thanks of the General Assembly are due
TO these prominent officials or the Fede-
raj Government for services rendered 70
the State. Colonel Mcdonald kindly gave
us the use OF a steamer with its officers,
which was indispensable to the work
which the State required to be done. Pro-
fessor Mendenhel. OF the Coast survey.
allowed us TO select from the able ana
accomplished men of his department FRO
fessor Baylor, from Virginia, who was at
Mobile Bay, and we were compelled TO
delay our survey for short time to Sc
cure his services. IL was impossible 10
complete the work last summer and falL
The winter and early spring was con-
sumed in making maps and charts re-
quired for n perfect understanding OF thls
important work. For the facts connected
with Il I viii be compelled TO refer you to
the reports Of the officers in charge. These
gentlemen all deserve the thanks OF the
General Assembly for the efficient services
they have rendered in preparing the usetul
maps and surveys Of all the oyster-lanus
belonging to Virginia, and thus furhlsn-
ing an intelligent basis for any dlsposl-
ton we propose to make OF those ianus'
and enabling us with accuracy to define
ate the surveys OF each holder OF oyster
lands as they are marked out by the
proper authorities
DEFECT IN THE LAW.
II would cucumber this message 100
much for me to discuss minutely the lesls-
lation we now have on the subject ana
must be content To make a brief ailusioh
TO the same and its most important de-
fects So much OF the law as creates the
Board of the Chesapeake with it's powers
should be repealed. This board Is com
posed OF the Governor, the First Auditor,
and the Treasurer. These gentlemen nave
as much as they can do. and my expert
ence satisfies me that they have not SUM-
cient time TO devote to such duties as are
required OF this commission without Sc
riously neglecting duties more properly
belonging TO their offices
Cd This board should be dissolved ana
it's duties assigned TO another officer, VINO
should be selected by the Legislature
npF ri
hereafter.
C) The vessels now used as a force to
guard and protect our oyster interests
should be disposed of as unfit for that
purpose and others better suited should
be selected, and they should be controlled
In a different manner.
90 Section 1884 Of the Code of Virginia
In relation TO inspectors and their duty
should be amended so as to embrace
rents, thus giving a quick remedy ana
not requiring the inspectors TO get n dis
tress warrant in every case IL is slow,
inconvenient, and costly. If the present
law Is retained this section should be
amended as suggested.
90 The inspectors should not be ap-
pointed by the judges OF the county
courts. They have no special interest In
this work, and are in no way response
execution. II imposes upon them duty
which does not properly belong to their
offices, and the ineficiency Of the manner
in which It is executed will be apparent
upon an investigation.
80 The great inducement offered TO
the citizens Of Virginia 10 rent the oyster
lands and 20 engage I'm oyster culture
satisfies me that there are not now suiii-
cient resources among the people 70 cult
waite II all. There is also such a draft
on the treasury the they should be rent
ed out TO raise revenue. 1t VIII be better
also for the planters. because as much
of the ground should be occupied as pos
sible TO prevent the unoccupied acres from
being a place Of rendezvous for the lawless
trpspassers, and the oysters on such
fiaces viii be an inducement for them to
gather there and 10 go forth az uneXpcct-
ed times to prey upon the property Of
the citizens. | would, therefore, advise
that the Commissioner, after reasonable
time. be allowed 10 rent 10 persons who
are not citizens such parts as have not
been taken up. but he should in no case
give TO such nonresident a lower price
than that offered 10 a citizen Of the State.
ASSESSORS AND COLLECTORS.
There should be appointed by the Shell
Fish Commissioner with proper bonds
Oaths and checks. a sufficient number of
assessors and collectors, so as TO insure
the faithful enrolment Of all the oyster
lands, with the names of the occupants
and the number and kind of vessels en-
gagged in oystering and fishing. and the
collection and accounting for all the reve-
nue. and rents received by them: they
should make their reports in triplicate
one copy to be deposited with the Fish
Commissioner one with the Clerk of the
County, and one with the Auditor OF
Public Accounts. II Is asserted that a
large amount of rent and revenue, which
could with a little care be collected Is
never realized because Of the iuefiiciency
and Indifference OF the proper officers
and some which Is collected IS never ac-
counted for. There is no way to ascer-
tain the facts. because of the imperfec-
ton in the present law. This should be
remedied. The law should be so amended
as TO make It conform as nearly as
possible to the law now in force for the
assessing and collecting of the other reVe-
nues Of the State. The captains of the
vessels would be the proper persons 10
collect this revenue. and the assessors
should be appointed by the Shell-Fish
Commissioner
SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONER.
After examining the question / am salts
fed that this subject should be taken from
the Board OF the Chesapeake and from
the County Court, and II should become by
law a separate and distinct department OF
the government. There should be placed
at its head an efficient man, who has the
energy and ability 10 make himself ac'
dualnted with this great interest. with the
courage to enforce II strictly. He should
be so we'll paid as TO demand the ser
vices Of an officer of ability TO organize
and manage the whole fish and oyster In
terest of the State. He should be elected
by the Legislature for term or foul
years, thus giving him an opportunity {
show his ability. and he should be re-
moved by the Governor for malfeasanc'
or mlsfeasance or ineficiency in hil
Office. He should be allowed sufficient
number OF assistants or deputies to enable
him TO enforce the law; 10 rent out the
grounds, to collect the rents or what
ever else may be due TO the State for any
privilege which may be granted touching
the question. He should be required tC
register the vessels engaged In catching
fish, oysters, crabs, and clans, and al
other things which live in the waters o
Virginia and are the subjects OF leglsla
ton. There should be put at his com
mand three or more steam-launches, wei
armed, for the purpose OF protecting
our property, our people, and our waters
from all lntruders. and for enforcing the
laws of the State. After a trial Tor years