The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-13
THE TIMES-RlCHMOND VA. SATURDAY JANUARY Is 1894

which the oyster industry IN 4na's ,anu
between 1880 and 1883 had fallen o., aDou,
one-third, while that of Georeia anu
other States had greatly increaseu' lne
protection OF the oyster Industry
more important than the protecuoh y.
natural oyster beds. In CONNECTICUT anu
New York the natural oyster beds were
rapidly decreasing, while the oyster IN
dustry was rapidly increasing. New YORK
and Connecticut. with 1900 acres Of nstu-
raj oyster beds. had produced in GER
tain length of time nearly as many oysters
a. Virginia with her 10000 acres OF natu-
raj beds and had reaped a much more
lucrative revenue than had Virginia.
supply and Demand.
Referring TO the question of how the
Industry should be preserved and the
relation of the natural beds and the in
dustry Itself, the speaker stated that the
question OF supply and demand was the
foundation Of the whole. The natural
beds OF Virginia could not supply the de-
wand between 1850 and 1883 the amount
~ oysters gathered In Virginia decreased
nearly 50 per cent. This looked as II the
natural beds were even now inadequate
for the supply. --
In Delaware the product had decreased
between $50 ard 1879 TO an ASTONISHING
figure. and the decrease In Maryland nao
also fallen or during the same time Whh'
that OF New York and Connecticut mao az
most doubled Itself. IL could De plain,
seen that the natural beds were hot SUN
c,en, 10 meet the demand, insisted tht
snoaror and n remedy was needed TO cor
rect the trouble The great diffcuity Wa'
that the people OF Virginia az a sehe' a.
rule "a well as the people OF otner States
tyere ignorant as 10 the cultivation OF tn'
natural beds. many of them iclalinihs .n"
the oyster would not norrlSn eise"h0i'
than on natural beds $500
The object OF the convention, contihueo
the speaker. was not TO force any nedsui'
down any ones throat. but TO anVlse d
to some legislation in the matter. Inc pre-
servation OF natural beds could oniy De
ACCOMPLISHED by Increasing the supply
and thus do much towards realizing mucf
revenue for the state. The tJO,OOO acres OF
barren land in the State should be I'M
proved and cultivated, which would re
quire $40 per acre per arnum. III th'
State attempted such Improvement |,
would cost between 100000 and N.Vovv
per annum II the State should attempt
| TO inprcve the question would then arise
who shall have control of the territory
| IT was out OF the question for the Stat'
| TO attempt such measure. III must ~
| done by the individual. To convince IDS
latter that such would be profitable, h'
must be satisfied that the 65O,oo acres OF
barren land, when cultivated, VIII b'
| favorable for the oyster.
MIR Winslow believed that the SloV
/ profit in taxes received by the State coui'
| not be more advantageOusly utilized thar
| TO make a careful survey of the natural
| oyster grounds OF the State, and designate
| which could be profitably employed Dy
| those contemplating the cultivation or th'
| oyster i'm this territory. No question OF
| few dollars, said he, should hamper or IN
ferfere with the progress OF the interest
| The planters and oultivators asked very
| little I'm the way of privileges. They
| simply demanded that their business
be treated as other business, and that the,
| be free from opposition to their work
/ that the titles be made good TO them, 50
| that they might harvest the crop whicf
| they planted. TO induce them 10 enter into
| the Industry and increase the supply, sai'
| the speaker, should be the object of al
| legislation on the subject. He believed
| that the oyster industry would either di'
land the facts IN history had shown a.
| much), or the cutivator would have L
| step in and revive H.
Lieutenant Winslow in conclusion. sale
that as soon as the people of the State
became convinced that the policy OF pro
| tectng the industry was necessary, sucl
| legislation would be adopted as would &C
crue to the welfare and benefit OF th'
| people OF Virginia. and that the OI'
| Dominion would resume her former place
as one of the leading fishery States in The