The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-02

II a tongman elect the sum OF 81. II he
uses ordinary tongs. or - II ne use
patent tongs. for the season.
The records show that very few
elect TO pay the specific sum,
but make report OF their catches
which In many instances do not
exceed s. 30 in value. caught by two men
or one cent tax per week. In fact' tneir
reports generally indicate thar tney are
engaged In a most beggarly business ye,
they continue from year 10 year ana
when the oyster season opens laooreIs
leave the farms and with their canoes
and tongs. ply their vocation. from which
they derive. according 10 their Reports
much less than living expenses
What must be the conclusion ines
though the State donates the oysters. TINS
benehciares Of her bounty withhold from
her the little revenue she demands.
OF course. there arc honorable excep-
tlons 20 the rule--tonsmen who. ike gooc
citizens. comply with the law and render
the slight tribute the Commonwealth i'm.
poses. and 10 them my criticism does moi
apply. nor will they so construe II.
Every season our rivers. bays. sounds
and inlets swarm with tongmen. yet the
total amount OF tax received from them
during the fiscal year OF 1861 was
a. 1910
As long as the constitutional provision
stands only forty cents tax on the one
hundred dollars of value OF the catcher
can be imposed but some system should
be devised by which al least this small
revenue would certainly reach the treas
ury The law now requires weekly re-
ports and payments OF the ad vaiorem
tax to the inspectors unless the specific
tax OF s. OF s. has been paid nj the open
ing of the season. A / have said. very
few tongmen pay this specific tax. but
make weekly reports. Now Is not this
fact conclusive evidence that these men
are defraudng the State2 Would any
set OF men engage I'm a business for eight
months i'm the year. when two men with
their canoe could not afford TO pay a tax
Of s. on their catch Tor the whole sea-
SOM
Would laborers leave tho farms end
trucking fields ard 90 10 the oyster beds
upon such an induoement? The business
! is quite profitable. and this IS the reason
! they assign for going TO the waters. In
my Judgment. the State ought 20 receive
from the tax on the catch Of the tongmcn
many times as much revenue as she
| now realizes.
How this additional revenue can be
secured. il Is indeed difficult to suggest.
| The tax can only be levied upon the value
Of the oysters caught. and It is impossible
! for the State 10 take an account of them
| she must. as the law stands accept the
reports of the tongmen The penalty fixed
/ for a false return Is "A fine of not less
| than so nor more than $50 to be recover
| ed as other fines are recovered. ! would
| recommend that the statute be 50 amend
! ed as 10 make the offense a felony. The
/ penalty now prescribed Is without force
! for I'm a vast number of eases fines could
not be collected. IL there were success.
/ ful prosecutions.
! I would recommend that the command.
/ ers of all vessels who receive oysters
| from tongmen. and all dealers who re-.
| ceive oysters from tongmcn. be required
under severe penalty TO keep list of
/ the names of all persons from whom
/ they receive oysters with the dates
| quantities and prices. and make reports
! under oath 10 an officer. 10 be designated
In each county. OF such names. dates
| quantities and prices I further recon-
mend that all commanders Of vessels and
| dealers be prohibited under penalty from
| receiving oysters from any tongman who
| is not a duly registered tongman.
Tax on Planted Oysters.-The statute
/ requires all oysters planted or shells de-
] posted for propagation. to be assessed
by the bushel for purpoes OF state ana
| county taxation. and that an ad valorcm
tax OF forty cents on the hundred doll
lars be levied, stil keeping within tha
constitution. / give the reports that
have reached the Auditor for the year
1891: