The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-27
FACTS FOR TAXPAYERS.
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY A SOURCE
or GREAT WEALTH.
What "A Large Revenue the state Gould
Derive Therefrom, Were II Properly
Managed-L Lease System.

lection of the interests OF the Common
wealth. 1t IL impossible for the State,
with her present navy and corps Of in
spectors to guard the natural rocks. In
the first place, ii would require over dou-
BILE the navy we now have, which would
increase the present nigh rate of taxation.
To prove that the present navy Is not and
cannot be made efficient is not at ali dill
hcult.
When you consider that we have only
two small steamers and one sailing YES
sci to patrol large portion OF the Chesa-
peake bay and the following riverside
tomac. Rappanannock. York. James, Nam
semond and Elizabeth-you can readily
perceive that 1t would be impracticable.
A large majority of oystermen watch
for opportunities TO evade the law during
the absence OF gunbOats and inspectors,
and often within a few hundred yards OF
them.
COST OF THE NAVY
The present navy cost the State for the
last two fiscal years as follows
Year ending Sept. 30. 1896. ........S27. SSi.26
Year ending Sept. 80. 1897 s506f.h
This TO maintain a fleet comprising two
small steamers and one railing vessel.
According to the official statement Of the
Auditor OF Public Accounts. the revenue
for the past two fiscal years was as fol-
lows:
For the year ending Sept. 30. 9G. .s5l .9SO5
Year ending Sept. 30. 1897 ........s2i.9N5.2e
And this small revenue from a source
CT such wealth
There are 2l6.37S acres Of natural rocks,
beds and shoals contained in the state
survey which the State claims for the
use Of the public
What profit are they 10 the State under
the present management? Suppose all
the oyster grounds included in this sur
vey were rented or leased for the period
OF twenty years at one dollar an acre per
annum You would have a yearly in
come OF S21637S. quite a difference, you
will perceive. between this and the pres
cnt revenue.
Again. it is well known by all who have
made this subject a study that there is
more than twice the acreage not included
in the State survey which is looked upon
as planting ground The said planting
ground IS leased to the planter for twenty
years at one dollar an acre per annum.
Allowing only one half Of this bottom 10
be occupied by private individuals II
would equal the amount Of revenue that
could be collected from the number OF
acres contained in the State survey, pro-
vided they were leased.
TIE WRONG COLLECTORS.
1t is quite true that very little revenue Is
derived from the planting ground under
the present management, and for the
reason that the money is collected by the
inspector instead of the county taN-col-
lector who should have the power under
the State law to sell personal or real
estate in order to redeem this tax the
inspector not having the power under the
present law to enforce II.
At present no one is really RESPONSE
BILE. hence this loss to the State. The
inspectors call pom them for their taxes.
and may threaten and advertise, and
when the day of sale arrives. no one viii
purchase. the prevailing Idea being that
il is a very low act for one FISHERMAN
to buy the oysters Of another, under
those conditions.
Another very important thing TO be re-
membered. is the proper assessment or all
oysters that have been planted The
planting industry having assumed large
proportions. it is natural TO suppose that
i'm this as we'll as in most other occupa-
tions, a great many unscrupulous parties
will be encountered VINO will rob the
State by not giving the correct number
of bushels per acre.
The present law in regard to this, is
failure. it not being stringent enough.
There is no doubt that law could he
enacted that would be more rigid I'm its
effect and consequently produce far bet
ter results and increase the revenue OF
the State.
Why not have the assessment made by
the county assessors along the water
courses this 10 be assessed the same as
otner property and all taxes derived from
rental or lease 10 be collected 10y the
county tax collector.
Further in making application for
grants of the public ground. why not en-
power the clerks Of the county courts
wherein the said ground lies to advertise
and issue the same thereby dispensing
with the office OF inspector. still fur-
Their decrease in the line Of taxation.
THE LAWS NOT OBSERVED.
II the State were TO lease all or heI
public oyster ground for the period OF
twenty years II would undoubtedly have
the effect OF increasing instead Of d.
minishng the oyster supply.
As 1t is now. the oystermen are tong
ing even the shells from the rocks. and
consequently in the course Of few years
they will become barren. Oystermen, as
a class. seldom look 10 the future. To
improve their condition. so year after
year a very large majority Vio,ate the
State "a we'll as the natural laws devised
for their protection. Many OF them pay
no taxes for the reason that they live on
boats and are constantly moving from
one locality TO another. \ very large num-
Der Of them are rot really residents OF
the state. simply soiOurning during the
oyster season. another important fact
10 be considered. is the constant decrease
in the amount of revenue derived under
the present oyster license law. \ very
large percentage of them. in my section.
which is upon the James river pay no
taxation FOR the privilege Of catching or
taking oysters from the public oyster
grounds. and | suppose II Is quite as true
in regard to other sections Of the State.
Judging from the Auditors official state
rent Of the small amount Of revenue re-
ceived.
II is impossible 10 impress upon their
minds the importance Of protecting the
rocks by proDer observance Of the laws.
You will hardly find In a community
twelve oystermen that will unite for the
purpose of establishing a market at pro-
dtable figures. 4 certain class will sell al
most any price.
Another reason of failure in obtaining
market is the fact that a very large num-
Der of these people wilfully neglect 10 Gull
out the shells ant, small trash from their
oysters. and. as they are really not prop
erlv handled the buyers cannot afford
and do not pay what would generally be
considered a fair marketable value. some
have planting ground, and Will plant
rather than sacrifice. while others are
forced 10 sell at reduced rates.