The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-15
FISH md GInR.
A Joint Session of the Legislative Com
mItfees

mitfees
A Joint session of the Senate Com
mittee on Fish and Game and Of the
House Committee on the Chesapeake
and its Tributaries was held i'm the
Senate chan Der yesterday afternoon, with
Senator Washington In the chair.
quite number Of local measures, main
~ House bills. were first considered by
the Senate committee. Mr.. Slemp APP
peared before the committed i'm favor or
his bill, which allows MIR. William Green
70 set fish traps in Powell river. Lee
county. During the discussion 1t ap-
peared that the petitioner was the same
person who was at the bottom OF the
row created i'm the House over Mr..
slemp's still bill, which gives him the
right TO sell the products of his still at
his dwelling house. The committee iinai-
~ agreed 10 report the fish-trap bill Ia
yorabiy.
senator Le Cato submitted a subst-
tutc to Senate bill defining and estab-
fishing by straight lines the low water
mark lines for Riparian owners along
the shores and islands Of the Chesapeake
bay within the limits of the state or
Virginia. The substitute provids that the
hill shall only apply TO Fox Island, ana
il grants the riparian owners OF INA.
island certain loW-water grounds iot
oyster planting purposes. The GROUNDS
shall be surveyed at the direction OF
the Fish Commissioner.
MIR William Ellinger. the owner OF
| Fox Island. appeared before the COM
4 mittee. and stated that he wished 10
have an arbitrary line established win
| the consent Of the Fish Commissioner
| He was willing TO give the state one
| half OF the oyster grounds so created
| senator Stubbs said the Legislature had
4 these
| lines from headand 70 headland' anu
| give Mr.. Ellinger the water area between
the line and the shore, if It comprised
| navigahlc water.
Mr. Euineer assured the committee that
! the water was not navigabie, for u "ds
| TOO shallow, really flats covered WIN
wator and he was very willing TO give
the state one-half Of those grounds De-
tween tho high and low water lines.
MIR. Tabb thought 1t would De wen ~
establish This line. but he did not see how
=, co'id he done for the State would
1850 too much land by il from when u
now received rent. IL such bul was
nassed il should apply 20 al sections.
Captain BAYLOR stated Fox island mao
a GREAT deal OF shoal water around H. ahu
II was hard 10 determine what was Nv
water and To settle this question inc
hin was introduced. II these lines were
| established. he would secure SOON "NN
of what is called oyster farm.
lOn motion OF Mr.. lie cato the bill wa,
finally passed by TO enable Or. Smti
Ia preparc an amendment. when Pro
vides that after the survey is made Ml
Tuircer shall give to the State ohe-na'
of the low-water area when ne acquile
in this manner.
Mr.. Hathaway appeared before the com
7 mittee on behalf OF his bill, whlch pro
vides for an amendment OF the flt
section of the oyster law passed las
session i'm reference TO the = oyste
tax payable by the oyster men. me Oh
seeks TO make the license receipts trans
ferablc. -
Mr.. Stubs thought that section wa
defective in various ways, ana ne wa
of the opinion that il the oyster tax va
: reduced To one dollar. the revenues
/ the state would be largely increased, 10
every oysterman. who now ala not TAX
ont "A license and evaded the law woul
, otherwise pay the dollar.
Mr.. Hathaway said that he knew ina
I'm some counties the inspectors did tai
the transfer OF such license, although IN
law did not allow It, and this was certain
, Nv sufficient reason to change the law.
Mr.. segar suggested TO Mr.. Hathawa
TO amend his bill, so as 10 reduce IN
oyster tax 10 one dollar, which woul
greatly increase the revenues. On ms
;ion OF Mr.. Stubs. the bill was fnali
Lassed by until the next meeting IN
afternoon, at o'clock, for the purpos
. OF making the measure more perfect