Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-11
CULTURE OF OYSTERS.
The Possibilities Of Wealth IN II for The
Old Dominion.
wAsnIxcrox CITY NEWS NOTES
Meath of Congressman Grain, Of
Texas-Decadence Of the Federal
sen.te-rhe Alleged Deal With
Butler-Yost-TucIer Case.

(Speciai.)--"If Virginia legislates wisely
remarked a gentleman yesterday, VINO Is
connected with the United States Fish
Commission, and is well-posted on OYSTER
culture, "enough business can be devel-
oped in oystering to occupy the entire
population Of the State"
Investigation seems to fully verify the
statement. The strides which have been
made In Long Island sound in oyster
growing by Connecticut proprietors can
be repeated In Virginia. where. TO say
the least, conditions are equally favor
able The Connecticut oystermen pro-
duce to-day an excess OF more than %
per cent. over the entire consumption OF
thirty-ive years ago, and Of the total
production Of oysters of all kinds only
per cent. are from natural beds.
1t was only last Friday that the Balti-
more Sun printed a statement from
the city Board OF Trade, to the effect
that the oyster crop OF Chesapeake bay
amounts to 40,000,0Oo bushels year. Tine
SUMS statement does not agree with re-
Gently published figures by the United
States Fish Commission. the latter
placing the amount at l6OOo,OoO bushels,
but the actual production Is believed to
be most closely Appropriated by the
Baltimore Board OF Trade. Even taking
the smaller figures however, IL Is APP
parent that oyster planting under stimu-
latiye and protective laws would COM
pletely revolutionize the affairs of the
State The annual value of the produc-
ton by Virginia is according TO the
lower estimate by the Fish Commission,
$2,500,0o0.
al txx tho rot
OF that of Connecticut, would produce
sl25,OOO,0O0 a year. No artificial propaga-
ton Is necessary. Seed are so plenti-
full that they are like weeds, requir-
ing hard work to be kept under
control. All barren places which are too
soft can be corrected by the planting
Of shells. II is only the shifting bot
tom which is beyond our power to re-
claim.
The adaptability which the Long Island
oystermen have displayed in being able
to preserve their boundaries and Sue
cessfully farm deep-water areas OF seven
ty feet and more is an evidence OF the
intelligence of American fishermen.
When storms or vessels carry away
the buoys which mark the corners OF
their holdings any enc OF these men viii
take his boat and outfit VI instruments
and, by triangulation. reset the marks
however. that the plats Of bottoms
were originally surveyed and marked off
by the State the United States Coast
Survey first establishing shore-beacons.
GOOD WORK IN VIRGINIA.
Already good work has been done I'm
Virginia, in the surveying of Pocomoke
and Tangier sounds, by Lieutenant Ro-
bert Plat. commanding the United
States Fish Commission steamer Fish
Hawk. and by Captain Baylor for the
State. After re-establishing the signal
beacons, placed on the land thirty years
previously by the United States Coast
Survey. Captain Plat adopted a new
plan for determining the character Of the
bottom, photography and fauna, which
was thorough. Instead OF depending upon
the lead-line. he unshackled the port
anchor-chain and allowed the free end
four times as long as the depth OF
the water. to drag on the bottom
| The chain acted as an Indicator making
a low and almost inaudible sound when
passing over sand. and on oyster-shelis
| grating noise. On rank oysters there
vas a greater volume OF sound, as the
| shells were crushed On stone bottom
there was a clear, ringing sound. With
yards out on both bows. two dredges
were operated to bring up samples Of oys-
/ tiers as their presence was noted. When
]
was put overheard. the period OF time
for allowing either dredge to catch oys-
ters being i'm proportion as they were
scarce or abundant, as told by the noise
l from the chain.
While this was going on 'he officers,
with instruments, were on duty. deter
mining by triangulations the exact po-
sition on the chart whore each ,iredge-
full OF oysters came from. Sometimes
there would be as many as a hundred
bushels OF oysters on deck. when all
available help on The ship would be en-
gagged in counting the oysters and deter
mining their condition, and the number OF
young oysters or set" adhering TO the
old ones. This survey, made in 1921, is
said to have been. the most original and
finest ever executed in any country.
DEATH OF, MR.. GRAIN.
The flag that had waved over the House
since the recess taken on Saturday night
was placed at half-mast early this morn
ing, when 1t became known that Repre-
sentative w. III. Grain. OF Texas, was
dead. Mr.. Grain has been In Congress
since the forty-ninth session, and was
well known In Washington as one OF the
most genial and companionable men in
the lower house. In the palmy days OF
the Press Club here Mr.. Grain was
member. and was invariably present when
the Gay break rangers gathered ABOUT
the last smoulder.ng crate. and finished
the night seance with story and song.
II Mr.. Grain had any attachments In
Washington aside from his own delightful
family 1t was to the members OF the
press. and but few newspaper represen-
tatives have not on hundred occasions
enjoyed his hospitality. listened to his
witticisms. and profited by his readiness
to give them whatever information he
could divulge.
Mr.. Grain. at the beginning of this
Congress, was the only Democrat who re-
fused to vote for ex-Speaker Crisp, but
persisted in casting his vote for Mr. Gull
berson. Only few days ago the former
congressman. Mr.. Everett. of Massachu-
sets. who was recognized as one of the
finest grammarians in the country, wrote
an open letter. In which he stated that
Mr.. Grain used the most correct and
expressive English language In the lower
body.
The House adjourned at once this morn
Ing upon the receipt OF the sad intelli-
gence Of Mr.. Grains death.
SENATE IN TURMOIL.
In the Senate the motion of Senator
Quay to recommit the tariff bill with its
silver substitute was not made. The
Senate Is In state OF remarkable tur-
MOL. and the gaining Of the patrOuage nm