Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-02-15
Oyster Bill in the Interest of Mr..
Ellinger and Nom Residents.

EDITOR ENTERPRISE Il have be-
fore me bill relative to the planting
and taking of oysters in this State,
recently introduced in the Senate by
a Mr.. Jones of one of the mountain
counties, which by reason of excep-
tional favors granted in said bill to
our Mr.. Ellinger, of Fox Island, has
become known as the "Ellinger Bill"
This bill, while it seems to embody
some good features, contains others
repugnant to our sense of right and
Justice, and still others that if Ell
acted into law will work great hard
ship upon our laboring oystermen.
The purpose of this communication
is to inform our people generally and
as soon rs possible Of the most salient
features of the bill affecting those of
them engaged in the taking and
planting of oysters, in order that
they might know of the impending
evil, and take steps at once by petit
tions and meetings to protect them
selves if possible from the threatened
injury. No time should be lost in
presenting their renonstrances at
Richmond, either by delegations
composed of the right sort of gentle
men, or failing in this, by petitions,
addressed to the General Assembly.
am assured that the evil provisions
of this bill are being fought stub
bornly by the solid delegations of our
two counties, and by tidewater rep
resentatives generally, but am sorry
to say that their chances of saving
our people from the iniquities of this
measure, are greatly lessened, if not
wholly nullitied by the active opposi
ton of paid lobbyists and others,
The first section of the bill named
requires that every tonger shall, be
fore he takes an oyster, register. lie
shall then appear on every Monday
during the oyster season before the
county treasurer, and pay on the
value of his weeks catch of oysters
the same rate of tax, as is paid to the
State by taxpayers on other property,
and shall in addition appear once
every month before the county Judge
and swear to the correctness OF his
weekly return, or in lieu of the above,
he may if he SO elect, pay before he
catches an oyster, to the treasurer
the sum of $500, for the privilege OF
catching oysters during the season
Many Of our tongers don't have the
$500, and this bill gives them no time
in which to make it. 1t closes the
season for longing on the 25th OF
March, and opens it the LIST day of
September. 1t permits dredging 10
Pocomoke Sound to those who own
or plant one hundred acres or more
of adjoining oyster beds. If one
should own or plant less than this
number of acres, he will be compelled
to use tongs in taking up his oysters
in competition with the much
cheaper method of dredging en-
ployed by the larger planter, to has
great disadvantage. 1t allows the
tonger to take five per cent. OF culls'
which practically does away with
the Gull law that has been of so much
help in keeping up the yield of our
rocks. 1t prohibits dredging en-
tirely to all parties in exclusive'?
Virginia waters, except to those who
own over one hundred acres of plant
ing ground. This provision, besides
being unjust to planters of less than
one hundred acres, practically con
fiscates our dredging fleet OF l2o
vessels worth thousands OF dollars,
and allows to go to waste thousands
of bushels of fine oysters that can't
be caught with tongs. Itallows non
residents to take up any amount OF
land in Chesapeake bay-ali OF 1t II
they should so desire-for planting
purposes, and allows them to work
their oysters in any season Of the
wear, and by dredging or any other
method. This same privilege is also
given to planters in Pocomoke Sound.
These nonresident or bay planters
are allowed to employ anybody,
whether foreigners or not, to plant
and to handle their oysters. All
planters in gangier and Pocomoke
Sounds are denied this privilege, ex'
cept MIR. Ellinger-he alone can EN-
ploy non residents. These last named
provisions are wrong in my opinlnn,
for the reason that we have no more
good planting ground in the bay or
elsewhere, than our own people
would soon use, provided the State
could and would provide adequate
protection to planters against loss by
thieves and otherwise. If non-resl-
dents are allowed to take up this bay
ground, it should be done only III
connection with residents of the
State, and in conjunction with home
capital to the extent that natives
should acquire and exercise a con-
trolling interest in the business. Our
own people only, should be allowed
employment-in the planting and
handling of these oysters-except
that crews of men engaged on vessels
used exclusively as run boats
might be employed. Otherwise l
can't see any benefit to accrue to our
people or State by these concessions
avnn,N% &hn fay 6nl.