Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08

junct in the development OF barren area
but the proposition as framed In the
paragraph considered In too much Ike an
omnibus--it carries too many riders. Inc
right to sell. transfer. assign are rune
tons OF the State. and should not pass
from her control.
mo. 6. To remove the prohibition OF
taking oysters with tongs) less than zig
Inches In length. measuring from mouth
to hinge. and to provide that all oysters
taken from natural bed. rock. or snoa.s'
IN the waters Of Virginia except On
the eastern side Of Accomac and North
ampton counties. shan be clean culled.
upon their natural rock. bed. or shoai'
as taken. ind all shell be replaced upon
the rock. bed. or shoal"
The prccreating power OF an oyster
Is In ratio to Its size. hence an oyster
under Is less valuable than one ever the
size OF 2l-2 lnches-its commercial value
Is also less-apropos OF which 1t Is but
fair TO ask at what Size under 2l-2 inches
does The oysterman propose % stopT
The formulation OF barren bottoms de-
ponds upon the egg producing quality
OF the oyster rocks II would. for this
reason. pay Virginia much better to pre-
vent the catching Of another oyster.
than TO encourage n system that VIII
rlp the very womb out Of oyster exis-
tence. The culling law IL already on
our statutes, IT'S persistent violation has
much to do with the condition Of our
rocks.
PROTECT THE ROCKS.
mo z To make dredging oysters. ex-
cept as otherwise provided unlawful,
even upon the grounds assigned for
planting oysters. and 10 provide that no
license TO dredge oysters in any waters
In,
be granted. even though the applicants
shall have grounds for planting oysters
assigned them in other waters.
"It is claimed that some planters. under
the present dredging law, lease barren
plat next TO the natural rock simply for
the opportunity Of encroaching upon the
natural rock. The change In the law
is asked In order TO meet this alleged
encroachmcnt."
The weak condition of our rocks de-
mands that no such heavy tools as
dredges or patent tongs should be per-
mitted on them. The development Of
the barren bottoms demands that the
dredge or any other tool. from an oyster
knife to steamboat, shall be permitted.
The right to use any tool or appliance
the oyster-farmer chooses to employ Is
part and parcel of Industrial freedom,
the denial OF which Is opposed TO reason.
and the march of progress. and with
out which neither a farm under or above
the water is worth the havlng-the pre-
tended fear OF oystermen from the en-
croachments Of planters provokes a smile
which contributes to the gayety Of the
nations. and convulses the records Of our
courts with laughter.
mo. g. To provide for new survey
OF the natural oyster-rocks, beds. and
shoals. the survey made under the act
approved February 90 1892 being now
demonstrated to be Inaccurate"
This demand is in conflict with every
rule Of common sense and every prln-
ciple Of gratitude. The oystemen have
for century had practically the free
use OF 10000 acres of oyster-rocks. and
forsooth. because a few acres may have
been omitted, Virginia IS asked to waste
the $1,000 the survey has cost her, TO
shame the labor and intelligence that has
been expended upon II. and to order
resurvey. about the payment Of which,
through the contr buttons Of oystermen.
the petition is as dumb as a dead Dodo
LICENSE TO BOATS.
mo. Q. To provide that, instead OF
granting the license 10 take oysters
with tongs to the oystermen themselves
the boats 10 be used In taking oysters
with tongs shall be regis'e cred and liz
censed, such license to authorize one or
more men using such boat to take oysters
from the natural rocks. beds, and
shoals Of the State the number OF men
so authorized to use the boat for taking
oysters to be named in the license grant
to such boat"
There ought TO be no objection to this:
II Is In harmony with the right of
regulation. and, If properly safeguard
ed, will prove a much more collectable
impost than the Underwood tax OF 40
cents on every SEQ worth of oysters
caught and sold.
Ii is to be regretted that a petition so
ill-advised has been endorsed by any oys-
termen: It is not endorsed by all. There
are. no doubt, quite a number OF level
headed oystermen who hope that this pc
tition may meet the fate it deserves
WILLIAM ELLINGER.
Richmond, December 8. 1895.