The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-10
REVIEW OF NEW LAWS.
-, on THF HORN INFORMANT
EJILs PASSED THIS SESSION
ia oyster Iegis alton Has Been Largely
tmproved-Bcster Protection for fisn'-
CLAWS Interesting Richmond.

eood deal Of the time Of the General
,..embly during the session just brought
"a close has been taken up by the con-
s,r.uon OF the existing oyster laws
io suggesting amendments 10 the
,e There was comparatively little de-
.,e on those, questions in the TWO
,..s FOR the principal work was done
.re committees. The Underwater dele
..s did all they could 10 make the
, more convenient to their people
,., The others were determined In their
.. not 10 lessen the taxes The only
DISTANCE iu which reducuoh was SC
.l was through thc passage or lhe
f.f OF Dr. Smith. or Northampton Whlch
-.i.res The rental Of oyster grounds TOT
planting purposes on me ISL" ~,
Accomac and Northampton, from
.ltv cents 10 twenty-five cents per acre.
ur Smith intended 10 also reduce the
r.rfal ON the western OF Chesapeake pay
.lorc of Accomac, from one dollar 20 hfty
..rfs uer acre. but he met here with de-
cded opposition and had TO give II UP.
Che tax on tongers. using ordinary or
fatcnt longs remains unc hanged. inc
rsfcnt tongcrs having been permitted
q, rcnort the amount Of their sales cach
saturday night. or pay specihc TAX
~ & The renter OF planting grouhu
has been secured In his holding ~ w
STATE guaranteeing him the iisht 10 HD'1
his ground as long as he pays MS ny
o. sd,avro for twelve months Ut tii0
- a,,,t.s- "a uerlod Of twenty years.
-.e rental however. IS made cha'tri
l and az the death Of the renter IL
.s.os 40 his personal representative anu
ris heire. Subrcnting and subletung
rarnittcd. provided IL IS not TOT
r-eafcr amount than paid by inc oilS'-
.f renter % the state inc suDIeulih6
..- 0rlv be- done with The consent OF the
f-.naetor. and the certificate IS 10 be
corded in the clerks Office OF the coun-
. where the ground lies. Any person
.,g orcupylng planting grounds, ana VINO
l.. NOT paid his rent. VIII bee summary
fsr with by the Inspector and II ne re-
f..as 90 move and surrender the ground
f, is liable to a fine and the rent due
r lo taken out In oysters Tongers ana
Site must be registered hy the I'M
.rl.for. which. however, does not in-
,.t. any extra cost. The longing sea
.,r has been made the same as IN Mary
f.r1 from September ISL TO April z'in,
rne tho dredging season has been fixed
aom October 18th TO March 9Th.
10 Define Natural Rocks.
Tf. county courts are no longer 10
Aside the question OF natural oyster
r,.l hut cases now pending IN these
courts shall not be affected by the re-
veal of tho law This action was neces-
.rv because tho law now makes the
..rre between natural rocks and planting
--.rrd marked out By the Eeodetic survey
finally after the survey and plots snal
have been recorded m the clerks Office
f.- four months. An appropriation has
hrer made 20 have the surveys ana
rlofe published. The legislature has set
aside $1,000 for the procuring Of a steam
launch for tho better protection OF the
natural rocks in Fauquier and Pocomoke
eounds. standard metallic measures, by
which oysters are 10 be sold viii be made
ON the account OF the State, and turned
over 20 the inspectors for sale
Non-residents are prohibited from
catching or planting oysters or renting
oyster grounds in this state. The tax
on planted oysters viii be collected 10y
fho insnoctors who Will also make the
assessment and have to file their reports
fn the clerks office, ON or before October
1sf. each year. acgrieved parties may app
rfv 10 tie county court 10 have their
easements corrected like any other ere
roneous assessment. The clerk extends
the amount Of taxes for county and
state purposes and the inspector COLI
lets the same on and after December
Dr. receiving ten per cent. Of his col
lections as fees The culling law remains
unchanged. and Virginia can have now
uniform culling law with Maryland
for the waters OF the Potomac river.
on application of twenty citizens the in
snoctor shall lay Off and assign unoccu-
rIed oyster ground. but not natural rock.
and fl is to be set apart as claiming
ground. provided person can make
twenty-five cents per day in claiming
on that ground.