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


tlllc dlscussion OF his subject. explained
tie rearg 81 subsistence 90 the fish and
othe' sea dvrelIers upon microscopic plants
IN the eaa which. at times. said he
crowded ,ooether I'm masses sufficient to
discolor the water in their vicinity.
The sne,ter then dwelt upon the man
ncr In which the fertility OF very rich
country was from year to year washed
into Chesapeake Bay. The oyster. said
he. had great capacity Tor gathering UP
the Nutritious elements coming from the
black mud in the bay, and using this for
subsistence.
Professor Brooks presented highly in
teresting and Instructive treatise upon the
way In v'hich the oyster was sustained.
going 20 ~ origin OF the matter and
bringing o,,, many valuable thoughts as
to tho ,oethods by which the great re-
sources ~ chesapeake Bay and its tribu-
taries might be utllized'
Convention extend vote of thanks by
rising VOTE 10 the distinguished gentlemen
who had accepted the Invitation TO adj
dress the body.
The meeting then adjourned until 8
O'Clock.
The Night session.
At o'clock the convention reas-
sembled and capt. Orris A. Browne, OF
Cane Charles. was the first speaker, the
meeting having been thrown open for gem
eral discussion.
CAM prowne has probably az thorough
a practical knowledge Of The oyster indus
try as anv man in the state. He presented
q manor run of interest and information to
ovsfermen ard explained many features
In connection with the industry TO the en-
liehtenment OF those present. Capt.
Browne said that about thrty-efght years
AGO The oyster traffic was brought 10
the attention OF the people as an industry
for Welding vast resources to the State.
His duties. said the speaker. in connection
with the Industry began when Governor
Walker established the oyster navy IN
1870 he made q report TO the Auditor on
the traffic. ard the year following made
another report which, however. aroused
little interest. About that time" said
the speaker, II learned that the oyster
was politician as well as an edible
sheli-nsh."
In 1874 the oyster navy was sold. and
si3oOe was left in the Treasury TO its
credit. "The navy was re-estabished,
and has been a burden TO the State ever
since" said the speaker. except the
last year. and the oyster interest now
has a balance TO it's credit"
The speaker said that many difficult
ties had been encountered in the oyster
traffic. and that these difficulties, many
of them would never be overcome. He
yentured that the oyster revenue would
never realize enough to give a postage
stamp TO each inhabitant Of the State
OF Virginia. The oyster Industry should
be cor sdered as a food supply, and should
be treated as other enterprises.
Captain Browne then went into n dis
cusslon of the subject, from point of
view of revenue. He argued similarly
with Lieutenant Winslow, as reported
above, and took the ground that the
best possible. to the lands for lease
or sale should be made, and the owner
he permitted to treat the subject as
best suits his individual ideas The oyster
interest I'm Virginia was depressed and
TO revive 1t could not be done by taxa
ton. The same plan AZ that adopted in
New York and Connecticut must be EN-
ployed and capitalists be permitted 10
purchase the barren lands. and culti-
vate the oyster just as they would cult
vate agricultural products.
The speaker. continuing. explained the
manner in which the propagation of
the "toothsome bivalve" should be made,
and went into clear and interesting dis
cussion Of that part of the subject. lie
explained that there was a patent pro-
cess by which the oysters can be closed
and kept for sixty days at any temporal
ture below 30 degrees which method con-
sisted Of saving in the shell of the
oyster a SLOT and pinching a piece of
lead in the slot. During that sixty days
the oysters can be shipped to any ex-
listing market.
Captain Brownies speech abounded IN
valuable information entirely new TO most
OF the representatives present. and proved
Of great advantage to them.
He was followed in n brief speech by
Mr.. Ewell, Of Lancaster who said that as
a member from Tidewater he could safe
ly assert that the oyster surveys did not
approximate the area. because there was
so much mud not suitable to oyster
growing; therefore the revenue that they
name could not be counted upon.
Resolution for "a Bill.
Mr.. Alexander +. Warner, delegate from
the Board Of Trade of Portsmouth, said
I'VE must make haste slowly. and not
look 10 the oyster as a source of revenue
entirely. but as a cheap food product oil
the people"
Mr.. Warner offered the following reso
luton, which provoked considerable dis
cussion and met with strong opposition:
That a committee be appointed from
this body. whose duty it shall be to com
pile In clear. practical, and comprehen
sive manner pamphlet containing al
exposition Of the great necessity for &C
ton looking 10 the artificial propagation
Of oysters in the waters of this State, ant
the rebuilding of the depleted beds ant
rocks.
THAT said publication shall also con
tain simple and practical directions Of
the most approved and scientific processe:
| for such artificial propagation; and shat
also contain comparative statistics as e
sums realized from the sale of oyster:
taken from the public grounds and o.
those taken from grounds practically anC
scientifically worked.
THAT said committee prepare a bill
providing for the compilation and pub
LEGATION Of said pamphlet by the State
of Virginia. and urge its enactment by Tho
General Assembly.
THAT il is the conviction OF the con
vention that we cannot continue to rear
unless we sometimes sow, ana that, II
| our opinion. Il Is the imperative duty o.
the State to at once and energeucally take
up the matter Of oyster culture
Mr. W. NJ. Lee. Of Lancaster. opposed
the resolution, and offered as a substitute
that the proceedings Of the convention
be reported to the General Assembly
| which substitute was adopted.
sati,fi q with he Law.
Mr.. J. ID. Armstrong. Of Norfolk, thei
| took the floor. and said that he was
| practical packer and planter.
The oyster market at Norfolk Is dc
| moralized.' said he. and / cannot ac
| count for Il. Our people are satisfied Wit
| the present law. What we want IS pro