Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-04-27
The Oyster Bed Cases

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T''4N j" ''' seventies th' hat-
.''' 't-'';9 sa'h'Ird AT and near
''H!"lI' were placed upon Inc mar
"ti- al AN Francisco and Portland
and 4 name ana drhiah" Mas soon ere
aicd :or them to an extent that IN
duced many 10 embark IN the business
OF gathering and shipping these de-
Aclons t4NA.''S. olympia oysters soon
came t. "e known ana sought lar and
".de. 10 supply this demand the
oystcrmch operated promscnously
ui"n F'hAe TIDE lands wherever oEs-
teiS c"'id tee found III quantities sniil-
'I'"''! p.chtIiui l" tie worth gather
'iihg' he result WAS as might nat
u'''!y haNe been expected mat Tue
oyster beds at oyster bay Mud bay
ana "'her points were speedily de-
hndcd "i their marketable oysters.
lhcte was no incentive LOT any oyster
man |" icPiah' oysters taken 100
S'''"'' .'f Saic' hof 10 remove s'ar ls'',
'h"SseA' anu o'her natural enemies Oh
tue OYSTER OK o'her"ise 10 improve Or
cuinVa'e any oed OF 'hem' hence IL
was 'iia' III very IL" years '"e sup
F!s VI MAJ Ae'"o'c oss'ci' oeeA'ne wen
| i's" eN''"useu' III 1910 ''ie Aeii''o-
'i~i legislature passeo d Id" aes'sheo
" pfo'ec' anu ou''u up 'i'iS Industry.
'i'' no power " sci! 'ne 'iue '.nos'
pu' IL "'o grant e"ciuSi'e fieh's VI use
Oh the same In TRACTS limited 10 ten
- - 80 " Wv fr
80, o.., ,'
e..,.-
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'' paw ~ w." ~ 0o
~. D., O
~ WV N %
.Ie " Wv "'0
'Ao f'' - '''e' P'o
S ~ "e,u' .s0
$50, - f'o '"' no0 penn"
,. ~. oNs'' n'"'"Ae .uo"
.', VI '"1 oo's anu p'o'eo''on u
o' "o'"oiy
.0os. % a. ""'o' o. H. ioi' a. -
'''"''" aAu o'neis' nave spent Inc oes'
ye"'' VI 'ne'. '"es al .hiS BUSINESS
'"o ,eSui. peins 'na' d 'oca' 'nous'fy
HAS oeen pu'it up aggfegaang an out
pu' "oi'n al 'ne '''afAe's apout wv
WV pei "niul''
When the State government came
into existence, general policy OF sell
ing its tide lands was adopted, the ex-
ceptlons being harbor areas, necessary
waterways for commerce, and natural
oyster beds. General laws were passed
granting preference rights to purchase
tide lands, at appraised values to be
liked by representatives OF the State,
and under these laws the owner Of an
artificial oyster bed could purchase the
tide land occupied in his business to
the extent of eighty acres, provided
only it we're situated beyond the limits
OF tide lands of the first-class in front
OF an incorporated city. A local board
OF appraisers was provided for in each
county, whose duty 1t was to lnvesti'
gate and locate any natural beds Of
oysters within their county, and to
make and file with the State land de
partment a plat of same, whereupor
such natural oyster beds were to bt
reserved from sale. The leading oys
} termen in Thurston and Mason coun
ties made application to purchase thei
oyster claims as artificial beds. Their
, were no conflict among themselves
. but a contest was initiated as to thei
rights to purchase by parties claiming
I no special adverse rights, on the grount
, alleged that the oyster beds in ques
, ton were natural" within the mean
+ ing OF the law, and therefore reserved
from sale. Three of the leading ap
plications so contested Chose OF Gale
Smith and Taylor were joined in ,
r contest before the State Board of Lane
; Commissioners. The case was Tough
: with determination at its hearing il
, February last, Assistant Attorney Gen
| eral Haight appearing for the contest
ants. 1t was claimed in behalf of tn
, applicants that the State board had n,
, Jurisdiction, the local board of Mason
county not having filed any map o
natural oyster beds, and being tn
. only tribunal authorized to determine
: that point; also that contestants ha,