The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-13
The Fish Commission T.

Hon. Marshall Mcdonald, the United
States commissioner of FISH and fisheries,
was introduced, and spoke in substance
as follows:
at come. as n citizen of Virginia, in
terested in any move that will insure the
prosperity of the State. AS commissioner
J have been made familiar with the con-
dition of oyster culture in America, ana
il has been my duty TO send abroad eX-
perts to make researches and bring back
information of value to the planters in
this country.
in 1880, as commissioner, l made
report 10 the Legislature OF Virginia,
through the Committee on the Chesa-
peake and its Tributaries, and my views
have not undergone any change since
that time. ] then stated that the great
est advantages could be secured by using
our privileges under the constitution, 10
put the culture of the oyster In condl-
lion that will develop individual and local
enterprise. and convert the natural pro-
duct into a commercial industry.
"The State is now moving in a direction
under new auspices and improved methods
that will result in fivefold, yea tell
fold Increase, in oyster production.
He outlined the policy which he thought
best TO be pursued by the State IN It's az,
titude 10 the oyster industry, which, salu
no should be such as is conferred oh
other enterprises.
Virginia has had a quasi owner
shin of her oyster lands. but they
have been hedeed about by so
many contingencies and privileges that
It has amounted 10 little more tnan
free fishing. What our agricultural
lands would be under a system which al
lowed any one to go in and gather tne
crops at viii is what our oyster Srouhus
are to-day The fixing Of the metes ana
bounds by survey, he thought the most
important step ever taken by Virginia
in favor OF the oyster industry. So far
as legislation is concerned, it should pe
used to make this survey permanent. III
the allotment Of these lands the survey
has been liberal TO the tonger, ana TINS
having been done the State has done an
that could be expected in favor or TINS
class.
This land, which Is productive but not
now under cultivation, which the state
proposes to lease. should have established
marks over which there can be no conro-
versy.
The Commissioner then explained the
conditions existing for oyster growing OH
the Chesapeake. and said that where
they exist the man who can lease the
| The policy Of the State should be to sell
i'm fee-simple those bottoms which require
heavy expense TO improve and look "a
the increase in value for consequent In
crease In revenue.
The riparian rights OF oyster grounds
said he. are very doubtful. and the set
Element of this question Is very important
The salt marshes occupy very important
position In connection with the oysters
as they must have food. These salt
marshes could not be made good oyster
planting grounds without great expense
but they can be made a valuable feeding
source by diking them and letting tbs
tide flow in and then drain it out OF
closely planted beds where the food Il
most needed. He closed his speech with
the hope that the industry would bring
great prosperity TO the State.
Professor Brooks.
| Professor Brooks. of the Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, who has given
many years Of his time 10 the scientific
feature of the oyster and It's surroundings
was next introduced. Professor Brooks
stated that for nearly twenty years ne
had attempted TO prove 10 the people oil
MARYLAND the necessity OF understanding
the relation between the natural grown
~ Tho oyster and the work OF man. some
claimed that as Providence had put the
ovsters in natural beds, man ought 70
nsrmit them TO remain there. This, ne
thought. was mistake.
From Chesapeake Bay during the pas
estv wears had been taken about 4ooOOo,eo'
trsbefs of oysters. said the speaker
every one who understood the subJec'
I would agree that this amount would nave
been much larger had the work OF mar
been coupled with that OF nature. az
was OF the opinion that the time wou,S
come when the product In one year WIZ ~
equal that OF the past fifty years. IN In