Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-03-24
Oyster Legislation.

| oysters passed the laCe ueleIai ms
sembly and have become laws.
Hereafter all tongmen desiring to
take oysters will be required by law
to register with the inspector. This
registration involves no fee. The tax
upon those using ordinary tongs. re-
mains the same. Those using patent
tongs can be assessed at their option
on their report of weekly sales, or in
lieu thereof pay specific fee of $500
for the season. The law in regard to
the registration and numbering OF
boats remains the same.
The rental tax, per acre, on the
ocean side of Accomac and North
ampton has been reduced to 25 cents;
but no renting is to be valid, in any
case, until rent is paid in advance
for twelve months. ANY person now
using planting-groun on which
rent has not been paid, will be sum-
marily dispossessed by the inspector,
who has the power to sell enough
plants on said ground to pay all rent
due. But the bona fide renter is sea
cured in holding by the State. and
his lease is made chattel real, pass
ing at his death to his heirs or per-
sonal representative. Sub-letting
and sub renting is permitted, pro-
vided the amount charged is not
greater than that paid by the renter,
and with the consent of the inspector.
The renter can have his survey re-
corded in the clerks Office, as deeds
are recorded; the fees OF clerks are
provided for, and by whom paid. By
conjoint action with Maryland, the
longing season will continue from
September 1st to April 18th. The
dredging season is from October 18th
to March 5th.
The section of the law requiring
the county court to decide the ques-
ton as to natural rock has been re-
pealed, except as to such cases as are
now pending in courts. An appro-
priation has been made to have the
late geodetic surveys and plats pub
lished, and this survey has been de-
clared fnality after four months
recordation. Prior to that limit,
natural oyster rocks OF twenty-five
adjacent acres may be redeemed from
planting ground, if omitted in the
survey, by due procedure, the neces
sary steps for which have been pro-
vided for.
An appropriation of s1O,5OO, was
made, subject to the discretion and
management of the Board on the
Chesapeake, to provide additional
police protection for the sounds. The
plan proposed is to build q strong
and powerful steam-launch, well
plated and well armed, and equipped
with q powerful search light.
Standard metallic measures for
measuring all oysters bought and
sold in the State have been provided
for. These measures are to be sup
piled by the Board on the Chesa-
peake, and bear a seal. The use OF
any other measure i'll the State is
made q felony.
The assessment on planted oysters
will be made by the inspector, who
will also collect the tax. The fee for
this service is 10 per cent. on amount
collected. This is the proper assess
ment on personal property; the in
spector merely taking the places Of
the commissioner of the revenue and
treasurer. The Gull law remains the
same.
A somewhat unique feature in Vir-
ginia legislation is the new clam law.
This act provides that any ground,
not natural oyster rock, bed or shoal,
and not already assigned for plant
ing purposes, may be, on application
of twenty citizens, laid off and desig-
mated as claiming ground; provided
in the opinion of the inspector per
son can realize at least seventy five
cents, per day, catching CLAIMS from
said ground. This ground is to be
designated by accurate metes and
bou ads, and set apart for the public,
as natural claiming ground. But
non residents are prohibited under
penalty from working thereon.
Grabbing with scrapes and dredges
in Virginia waters by non-residents
is made felony, and all grabbing is
prohibited on natural oyster beds
and rented grounds.
A great deal of watchful care was
exercised by Tidewater representa-
tives to preserve the rights of Virgin
ia waters to her own citizens. The
greed for oyster revenue which
threatens to open the doors to non
resident planters has been stoutly
resisted. Some pretty severe battles
were fought in the committees of
both Houses, and while the present
status of oyster legislation is not all
the FISHERMAN would have it, it is
perhaps the very best that could
be obtained just now. Under the
present phase Of oyster sentiment
throughout the State, oyster and rev.
enue have come to be synonymous
terms. The theory has been ofiic-
tally promulgated that mines OF pub
lie wealth are locked up in our natu
raj oyster beds, and that every acre