Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-20
THE NAVY TOO SMALL
Practical Evidence That the State HeAs
aBettsf Oyster Fleet.
THE TAHGIER SOUND TROUBLE.
The Chesapeake Ordered There Many
Changes Proposed by Mr.. stubbs-No
Determination Against Norfolk.

The Senate Committee on Fish and Game
and the House Committee on the Chesa-
peake and It's Tributaries did not resume
their Joint sitting yesterday afternoon
owing TO the fact that many members
of each were on other important commit
tees. which had to meet. When, however,
these two committees. charged with con-
sidering the oyster question, do come to-
gether again they will have stimulus
TO decisive action in one direction as least.
Since the committees rose Friday after
noon there have been high old times In
Tangser Sound, and the Maryland OYSTER
pirates have furnished strong argument
for the Increase of the efficiency of the
Virginia oyster-navy.
SATURDAY NIGHTS FIGHT.
About 80 o'clock Sunday morning Gov
ernor O'Ferrall was aroused by tele-
graph-messenger-bo who had a telegram
for him from Captain Read, of the
schooner Tangier, saying that owing to
the fact that he was out Of ammunition
the dredgers were about TO get the bet
ter of him, and urging that the Chesa-
peake be sent to his assistance.
The Governor did not know where to reach
the Chesapeake, but after telegraphing to
various points got a dispatch saying she
had gone from the eastern TO the western
shore of the bay. and was supposed TO
be at Cricket Hill, in Mathews county.
The Governor then endeavored to COM
.f.at ttsftf fafV I11R OF "a
Chesapeake by sending a telegram to
Cricket Hill via West Point. and yeSter-
day morning got a message from the Cap
tain dated Fortress Monroe, and stating
hat the Governors orders had reached him,
and he would proceed Immediately 10
Tangier. The Governor also got n tele-
gram from Captain Booker, saying that
Colonel Frank, the commandant at Fort
ress Monroe. had supplied Captain
Hudgins with ammunition. and that the
Chesapeake would so directly to the aid
or Captain Read.
THE TANGIER SOUND.
II was reported in legislative circles
yesterday that the Maryland pirates had
driven the Tanger out Of the sound and
taken full possession Of the natural
rocks.
The representatives in the General AS
StIuDly from the oyster SettlOH agree tIat
the oyster navy should be strengthened,
but there has been a great diversity OF
opinion as to how many new vessels are
needed, and how the increase OF strength
should be distributed. 1t is thought that
the recent affair In Tangier Sound Will
hurry a reconciliation of these differ
ences.
Special Message To-Day.
Governor OFerrall will to-day transmit
to the General Assembly a copy OF his
Geographic correspondence regarding the
Tangier matter and in a special message
outline the general conditions existing
in the oyster waters OF the Common
wealth and the outrages TO which the
citizens Of the Commonwealth. especially
those on Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds
are subjected from the Maryland dredgers.
He will call attention to the determined
efforts OF the Maryland trespassers to
take possession of the oyster rocks in the
two sounds named and the inadequacy
of the present State oyster navy to cope
with them. and urge prompt legislation
looking TO vigorous protection OF the ma
terial interests involved and the uphold
ing of the dignity Of the Commonwealth
The message will set forth that with
proper MANAGEMENT considerable revenue
can be raised from the oyster-beds and
drott'l inc NAlA.lI .4laN TlE4L kIf-lu.sI
to the waters now being invaded
The Governor regards the situation as
humiliating. and will call upon the Cen
eral Assembly to see that the laws OF
the State are enforced no less on water
than on land.
In concluding his message he will ear
nestly recommend the passage of "A bill
authorizing and directing the construc-
ton or purchase of two steam launches
equipped with improved ordnance for the
strengthening Of the navy. and the crea>
| ton OF an oyster commission, to be
charged with the control and direction
Of the oyster interest.
MR.. STUBBS'S AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Stubbss oyster bill introduced in
the Senate yesterday proposes the follow
ing amendments TO the oyster laws:
]. That the rent of oyster-planting
grounds be fixed at 80 cents per acre.
2. To reduce the fees TO be paid inspec-
tors for visiting and registration of tong
men and small boats.
3. Changing the time OF working on
natural rocks from the lst OF April to
the LIST Of May, thus making the working
season on rocks from the LIST Of Septem-
Der to the LIST of May.
4. Amending the law as to registration
of boats.
>. Requiring tongmen to be registered
6. Putting ordinary oyster-tongs and
patent oyster-tongs on the same footing as
to registration, and to permit the tongman
using ordinary tongs TO pay 81; the tong
man using patent tongs To pay s..
Z. Requiring rent TO be paid in adj
vance, and IL the occupant refuses TO pay,
then the inspector is to advertise that
said ground is abandoned, and the State
Is TO withdraw her protection from the
planted oysters and turn the ground out
TO the public and for rent by any resi-
dent.
S. Fixing the fees for the clerks OF the
courts for services rendered In recording
surveys and filing inspectors report.
O. Fixing the fees for surveyors OF the
counties who survey the oyster grounds
TO- Fixing more planting ground, TO be
designated as claiming ground under
certain circumstances.
H. Fixing further duties for the in
spector 10 perform.
u. Making the rental a personal inter-
est, and on the death OF the renter this
interest to pass into the hands OF the
personal representative for the benefit OF
creditors Of the heirs Of decedent.
Another Anti-Gambling Law.
Mr.. Mushbach is after the booksellers
again. The bill he introduced In the Sem
ate yesterday 10 prevent and punish
gambling makes IL unlawful for any person
or persons outside OF the grounds of an
agricultural society or county or city fairs
land then only during the existence OF
such county or city fairs) TO engage In a
business for the purpose Of recording and
registering bets or wagers or OF selling or
making books, pools, or mutuals upon the
results OF any trial or contest or skill,
speed, or power OF endurance of man or
beast, or upon the result OF any political
nomination. appointment, or election.
The penalty for the violation of this law
Is a fine of not less than 500 nor more
than $500 lone fourth of which shall be
paid to the informe) and Imprisonment in
fail not less than thirty days nor more
than ninety days
The bill is intended To meet the case OF
I.ascalles against the Commonwealth,
which was a test-case made up In the
Richmond Turf Exchange. Lascalles was
arrested for placing for patron by wire
bet on the races at Gutenberg. He
claimed that he had violated no law OF the
State for the reason that the bet was not
made in Virginia The case went TO the Su-
preme Court OF Appeals. and the court
held that the bet was made where 1t was
accepted.
Has Been No DISCRIMINATION.
MIR. Cookies resolution concerning al
legged discrimination by the railroads run
ming intos Norfolk against that city In
cotton rates, and asking that the charges
which have been preferred against the
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