Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-16
OUR OYSTER SURVEY.
Completion Of This Work Of Great
Magnitude lnd Importance.
oArr. BArLoRs FINAL REPORT,
In Submitting the Result of His
Lshers s.sgests Three Laws, the
Passage Of which, He Thiaks,
Would Result In Material Beneat.

Lahers s.sgests Three Laws, the
Passage of which, He Thinks.
Would Result In Material Denent.
The Virginia oyster survey Is complete.
and IN the following report. made to the
Governor yesterday. CAPITALS Baylor
gives an interesting account OF his work
and suggests three laws. the enactment Of
which. he thinks. would prove OF material
benefit to the State and to this impor-
tant industry.
RICHMOND. VA, May Is. 1895
His Excellency, Charles T. OFerrali
Governor OF Virginia:
Dear Sir.--I have the honor to submit
. report OF the work OF the survey OF
the natural oyster-bcds. rocks. and shoals
OF the Commonwealth OF Virginia, In ac-
cordance with act approved February
q. 1892 and (as amended) with act ap-
proved March 2. 1894.
In q report dated December l. 1899 State
Senate document No. III. l gave an out
line OF the organization of the force en-
pioyed on this survey. the methods
adopted in deiineating and mapping the
natural oyster-beds. rocks. and shoals OF
Virginia, and at the same time drew
comparisons between the condition OF the
oyster and fishing interests OF Virginia
and those OF some other States. recon-
mending such changes in our oyster laws
as wouhs x-pbably be beneficial TO these
interest
THE SURVEY Is COMPLETE.
Since the report was issued the survey
OF the natural oyster-beds, rocks ana
shoals OF Virginia has been pushed to
completion. This includes the survey
OF Chesapeake bay and its tributaries.
and also the survey OF the very ex-
tensive beds of the Atlantic-Ocean shores
OF Virginia. All the records bay" been
published, and the charts photolitho-
graphed. The published records contain
4ss pages OF closely printed mater. ANA
thirty elaborate oyster charts nave peeh
issued.
The positions Of all the corners or the
natural oyster-rocks, as determined from
marksd-shore stations, were computed ny
rigorous logarithmic computations I'M
mense labor was expended on the survey
and the preparation OF these recorus anu
charts. The expense TO the state mas
been greatly Iessened by the aid she mas
received from the General Government
The United States Coast Survey fur-
nisbed an officer for the work, the sur
yeylng instruments. and projection sheets,
while the United States Commission oi
Fish and Fisheries gave the state tne
use Of steam launch and her crew viii
actively engaged in field operations. WIN
would have
slow progress in our field work. To quote
from my last report. after years OF ex-
perience in such surveys l am saie III
saving that the assistance the teheIai
Government has been able to render tne
state of Virginia in connection with the
survey has diminished its cost to the TAX
PAYERS OF the State fully 80 per cent.
"The questions involved In connection
with this survey do not affect the peopie
Of this State alone. They have thdr lhhu-
ence on the food supply of the whole peo-
ME as well as upon the character OF the
bottoms. as indicated on the United states
Coast Survey charts of the coast OF VIZ
gipia. Upon these grounds two or the
important bureaus OF the General Gov
eminent have been willing TO lend their
aid to the State of Virginia.
Since writing my last report the originai
act authorizing this survey has been so iar
amended as 20 omit the words proViueu
~ any natural rock. bed, or shoal is lett
out of these surveys they shall not he used
for planting-grounds. but shall be subject
20 the general oyster law of the state
CHARTS AS LEGAL GUIDES.
The official charts and field records de-
flning the boundaries OF the natural oys-
ter-beds cannot now be changed except oy
n special act Of the Legislature In each
individual case.
Unless these charts and records are used
as a legal guide in settling disputes be-
tween those who gather oysters from the
natural oyster rocks public grounds) and
those who stake in and rent bottoms from
the State for the cultivation and propasa-
lion Of oysters. the considerable sum OF
money which has been expended by the
tax-payers Of this State upon this sur
ysy. and the time and labor which has
been consumed in its prosecution, will
have been wasted so far as the develop
ment OF the oyster interest OF Virginia Is
concerned. This survey. together with the
EXPENSE OF publishing the records ana
photolthographing the charts has cost
The taxpayers of this State about 20 cents
per acre for every acre OF oyster ground
surveyed-a considerable sum OF money in
the aggregate. but small cost per acre
COR extensive and complicated water sur
veys.
II Is now by law simply question of
interpreting the official oyster-records and
charts by a competent surveyor. as TO
what bottoms can or cannot be rented
from the State. My experience as an
engineer convinces me that in order 10
settle all questions OF boundary from the
official records of this survey In salts
factory manner. II will be absolutely ne
cessary for the State to have tho
roughly Incompetent photographic engineer
employed by the year for the purpose.
The county surveyors, with the means
and instruments at their disposal can
not be expected to do this class of work
unaided
WOULD INCREASE THE INCOME.
The photographic engineer should also
DC required to test the accuracy of the
areas returned as staked out and rented
rom the State by the oyster-planters In
he various oyster-counties. The salary
OF a competent engineer could be easily
paid and. at the same time. the revenue
derived from the rental OF oyster-grounds
would be considerably increased by cor
rected surveys. Ii is of the utmost i'm
oortance that the employment of such
an engineer should be urged upon the
sext Legislature. IL the survey is TO be
properly utilized. I trust you may feel
justified In recommending 10 that body
the employment OF such person, sup
piled with the necessary instruments.
There are In the whole State OF Nir-
ginia l.2i6.3 acres OF natural oyster
beds. rocks. and shoals. The legal re-
cords and charts of the whole survey
have been published.
This enormous area OF natural oyster
rock has now been delineated by three
county commissioners in each OF the va
rious counties having oyster-beds within
their limits. These commissioners were
selected by the county judges on ac-
count OF their long familiarity with the
oyster-grounds They were selected
largely from the tonging-class.
Unless some OF this enormous area hap
pened ~ have been assigned for
the cultivation and propagation OF oysters
prior TO the 18th day OF February. 1892
(and, as a matter OF fact. very little OF
IL was assigned. not one single acre OF
II. under existing laws. can he rented
from the State by any private Adivlduai
or firm. IL Is held for the CONN., bene-
1T OF the people Of Virginia. (ANk.e *.
section II. OF the State Constitution.)
WHAT MAY BE EXPECTED.
Let US look into the question OF the
revenue which the State OF Virginia Is
likely to obtain from the rental OF her
tidal bottoms not embraced within the
boundaries OF her natural oyster-rocks
A large majority Of the taxpayers OF the