Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-01-20
The Oyster Question.

The Oyster Question.
The following very sensible article
on the oyster question, from the pen
OF Dr. Geo. w. LeCato, appeared in
the Richmond Times, of the 18th
inst:
In view of the oyster convention
called by the Chamber of Commerce
for January 18TH, following closely
upon the message of Governor Nc
Kinney, there is reasonable fear that
an unhealthy enthusiasm in the line
of oyster revenue threatens the
State. To those who view the oyster
question from theoretical stand
point the late increase of revenue
may naturally lead to false assump-
tions and unfair and even dangerous
conclusions. Certainly there are
many important considerations in
volved, which should have due
weight in determining further legis,
ton.
With no practical knowledge of
oyster culture, the inference is fair
enough that million acres of bot
tom at uniform rental of 81 per
acre, will yield the State a million
of dollars annual revenue. No arith
metical proposition could be palmer
and simpler: and to the theorist, who
may be revenue enthusiast, the
solution is as gratifying as logical.
But, unfortunately, to the practiced
FISHERMAN it is equally plain that a
large portion of this so called plant
ing. ground is absolutely worthless as
oyster bottom; and that no resident,
or nonresident, could be induced to
plant it, even with a bonus from the
State. instead of tax. 1t is by no
means fact that all bottom covered
BY salt water furnishes suitable sites
for planting grounds. There are
many locaal conditions inimical not
only to the growth, but to the life of
the plant, as the FISHERMAN often
learns from expensive experience,
which the tl.eorist has failed to point
out 1t is even more difficult for the
planter to comprehend how even the
marshes along the sea coast of Acco-
mac and Northampton are to be
made especially prolific, as alleged,
considering they are merely high
turf-banbs, thickly set in course
grass, and very rarely covered by
water at the highest tides.
But, granting the assumptions of
the theorist, the planter himself
knows very well that to cover all
these bottoms with plants is to prac-
tically impoverish the great oyster
field and dwarf the whole crop by an
over demand on the food supply.
This fact has been too often demon
strated within the limits of local sit
uations, and is too plain and simple
to pass unnoticed. And hence it be-
comes a matter of some practical i'm
portance to determine, before enthu-
siasm has run too far, how many
acres of bottom are to be eliminated
from the estimate SO confidently givs
en- out, and upon which this crafty
ing calculation for revenue is made.
1t is therefore, easy to see that
progress in the line indicated by the
Governors message should at least
be slow enough to be safe. There
are many thousands of Virginia S cit
liens dependent upon this industry
for their daily bread. Most Of them
1 by constant, hard toll, exposure and
risk of life, are eking out scanty sup
port. These people should not be
needlessly embarrassed and distressed
on. the assumption of theories not
maturely considered. ITO foster
and protect the oyster industry of
the State for the benefit of its own
citizens is the manifest duty of the
Commonwealth. To foster and pro-
tect it mainly in the direction of
State revenue, and possibly to the
extent Of compromising the industry
itself, both to the State and it's citi-
zens, would be poor craftsmanship
and poor public policy. 1t is even
possible that undue enthusiasm on
the subject may ultimately lead to
serious recoil against the very theory
upon which it is based. And our
Legislature, charged with the grave
responsibility of dealing with this
question. will likely give it the Sc
rious, practical consideration the
subject deserves.