Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-07
OUR OYSTER GROUNDS
THEIR VALUE TO THE COMMON
WEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
a Letter on the Subject from Captain
j. ID. BnyIor-Hc Gives the Reasons
why They DO Not Yield the Reve-
nue. That They Should.


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In the Maryland and Virginia boundar.
award the Supreme Court OF the United
States goes out OF its way to emphasize
the fact that all things that swim in tn
tidal waters of Virginia. and all tina
grows upon the bottoms of Chesapeake
bay and It's tributaries. as embraced IN
Virginia waters. are the property of tn,
State of Virginia.
AS the property Of this State every one
of its inhabitants, no matter how re.
motely removed from these clustering ant
fishing-grounds. is part owner. AS only
a small portion of the inhabitants Of the
State live in such close proximity to these
grounds as to derive any practical adj
vantage from fishing or oystering, the
only way in which q large majority
Of them can gain any real advantage from
this property must be from the annual
revenue derived from 1t. 1t IS not only
the right but the duty OF every citizen
| OF Virginia to look carefully into IT'S
| management.
In 1895 survey Of the natural oyster
rocks OF Virginia was completed at a
| cost TO the taxpayers Of Virginia OF
over $4,000, and this does not include
the aid which was indirectly received from
the General Government. AS over two
years have elapsed since this survey was
completed, II is only right and proper
that the taxpayers should know If they
have received any return for the expendi-
ture Of so considerable an amount Of
State revenue
1t is not pleasant reading TO a. tax
payer of Virginia who lives so far from
the oyster-grounds as to derive no direct
benefit from them to find from the State
Auditors reports that while for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1894, the
taxpayers of Virginia received In gross
revenues from this property 35.36OS5 for
the fiscal year ending September 30. 1897.
they received for the same property. I'm
gross revenues. only s299S5.2O Certainly,
as TO any direct reward coming TO the
taxpayer Of Virginia from the $4,000 ex-
pended in the survey of her OYSTER
grounds, the returns 30 far are bitterly
disappointing
PROFIT AND LOSS.
From the most reliable government sta
tistics we find that over 100000 worth
OF oysters and over 100000 worth of fish
ginia waters.
This State expends annually through her
oyster navy over $4,000 to protect her
tidal waters exclusively Owing to the
Official management of the oyster navy
and TO its being reinforced by an addi-
uonal light-draught steamer carrying
rapid-hring guns, the Oyster-grounds are
so thoroughly protected that no non-resi-
dent OF Virginia now dares to encroach
upon them.
lnasmuch as the taxpayers OF this State
have afforded protection to her oyster
grounds and have had them charted |
and in view Of the fact that over 1900, 900 |
worth of fish and oysters are annually |
sold from these grounds. it is but natural
that they should expect TO receive some |
practical return. That such is not the |
case the Auditors report. as above |
quoted, shows in no uncertain way.
1t is the purpose of the writer to sug-
gest some reasons why Virginia receives |
so little advantage from her vast tidal |
area.
Unless some change can be brought
about 1t is clearly the interest of a great
of the inhabitants Of the State
to dispose of so Improbable a property
TO any one who is prepared to take the
burden from their shoulders.
We find from a report by the State
Auditor (see report Of the oyster survey
10 Governor O'FerralD for the fiscal year
ending September 80, 1894. that OF the
'55.36O.S collected by oyster inspectors for
he nscal year ending September 30 1896
'2O,677D was received from the rental of
barren grounds to oyster-planters This
'2O6T.So was practically clear profit TO the
taxpayers of Virginia. The cost OF coll
Getting the rent OF oyster-grounds Is in
Intestinal, while the cost Of collecting
he taxes from the tongmen and dredgers
Who oyster on Virginia's more than
o0.eOO acres of natural oyster-rocks is
'iten greater than the tax when collected.
OUR NAVY.
The heaviest expense to the State in
connection with her oyster interests Is her
yster navy. / know from observation
hat this navy is used almost exclusively
o protect the natural oyster-rocks and
he tongers and dredgers who make their
wing from them. 1t is rarely called on
o protect a planters grounds.
l write from personal knowledge when
state that were the taxes on her agr-
ultural lands as poorly collected as are
er oyster-taxes, Virginia would not have ,
efficient revenue TO meet the necessary
expenses Of State Government. much less
he interest on her public debt
nlS u largely que 10 the fact tnat there
J no responsible head with power to en- .
Drce the oyster laws OF the State
The writer believes that the following {
evenues might be obtained from the /
ystering and fishing interest: :
First Under existing laws all the tidal
rea not embraced In the survey Of the ,
atural oyster-rocks, beds, and shoals I
lay be rented at a uniform rental of a
ollar per acre for twenty years. ,
AT least $4,000 a year could be OBJ
lined at once from rentals, IL the oyster
Dlice were instructed to protect those
no desire to stake In and rent anv area
hich is not embraced in the survey Of
he natural oyster-rocks. n
In certain sections OF the oyster re- a
ons, by systematic defiance OF law con- (
rvative investors are forbidden to rent a
'ound not embraced in the survey from L
10 State when they have a perfect legal q
sht TO do so, and this under the very
ms of the oyster navy.
The rental which the State obtains from .
r oyster-planters would be very largely u
creased If some competent man was not
ly required to collect this annual rental.
rough the oyster navy, but at the same II
ne TO test the accuracy of the area ! q
nted by each individual planter from a
e State. h.
t Is very easy to pace off a given area al
agricultural land and form very la
use approximation of the area OF a given re
ict This is impossible in the case OF a a
-