Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-03-26
Our Oyster Laws.

VnT OYSGeT GhNss
EDITOR OF THE ENTERPR1sE:-At
the request of oystermen In many
different parts of the Eastern Shore,
l herewith forward copy of the
Board OF Fisheries Bill lately enacted
by the Assembly. In answer to
numerous inquiries received by per
sonal letter, I will add that, with the
exception of the Board of Fisheries
law, few material changes were made
in the oyster laws. The time for
taking oysters. both with tongs and
dredges, remains the same as before.
Among the few changes made was
the enactment of law applying to
the Eastern, or ocean, side of Acco-
mac and Northampton; (which pro
yides that all residents desiring to
take oysters in those waters shall
hereafter register each year with the
inspector, stating name. residence
&c, in order that non-residents may
he excluded from that section. No
fee is to be paid for such registration
but penalty is imposed for oysterlng
in those waters by persons not SO
registered. All scows, bateaus, skiffs
and other small boats to be used ID
taking oysters for sale or planting
from the natural beds on the sea-
side must be also registered, lettered
and numbered by the inspector. For
this registration and marking the
inspector will charge a fee OF one
dollar and twenty five cents, one
dollar of which shall accrue to the
oyster fund, and twenty five cents,
shall be the fee of the inspector. ANY
small boat employed in said waters
in taking oysters from the natural
beds, for sale or planting, and not SO
registered will subject the owner to
arrest and fine, or the boat to con-
fscation. Out of the fund accruine
to the State from this revenue, the
Board of Fisheries is authorized and
directed to provide at their discretion
for proper and effective police super
vision on that side of the peninsula
and the proper enforcement of all the
oyster, claiming, fishing and terraplr
laws.
A tax will hereafter be laid on al
boats in the waters of the State thai
may be used in taking crabs witt
scrapes. This tax will be one dollar
to the State, and fifty cents to the
INSPECTOR who issues the license
Boats so licensed will be numbered
and lettered, so as to be readily dis
tinguished from non resident CRAB
bers, and will receive proper STATE
protection.
A graduated tax will also be laid Oh
all nets employed in taking fish 10
sale. The tax on pound nets, fyke
and weirs will be 81, SIS or $40, ae
cording to depth, and the inspector
fee in addition; on purse-nets 50, 81
or 800, according TO boat and size 0
net. Gill-nets, trot-lines and all flxe
devices used in water less than 81
feet deep, and haul seines used solei
tor home catch are exempt from tai
alton. While under the new law
only residents of the State may Il
cense to fish, certain restrictions as
the use of nonresident boats an
:. - J : y s.-,-1aA'Aor-ae
congratulated that so few radics
changes have been made in the law
governing these industries. The de
mand of the up-country for Stat
revenue from oysters and fish threat
ened at one time to sweep down ever,
barrier imposed against it by tn
tidewater representatives. The ne
cessity for an increase of State fund
was not only handled effectively BY
Western representatives, but more
than one large syndicate of northern
capitalists had paid attorneys il
Richmond lobbying for a deal in oul
rocks, and ready with the tempting
offer of hundreds of thousands OIL
dollars to pay for them. The oyster
men of Tidewater must accept the
fact that the State is bound to have
a revenue from these Industries. The
Board of Fisheries law was the best
compromise that could be secured,
and doubtless the last concession
which tidewater representatives will
be able to secure short of non-resi-
dent competition or a sale of the
public rocks. If this compromise
measure fails to bring reasonable
revenue to the State, l believe the
oystermen need look for no further
protection. 1t is to be hoped, there
fore, that this new law, in all its pro.
visions, will meet with the hearty
moral support of all good citizens'
that revenue somewhat satisfactory
to the State may be derived from it,
and that we may hereafter have a
long peace on these vexed questions.
GEO. w. LECATo.
e--
Board Of Fisheries Bill.
Be it enacted by the General AS.
sembly of Virginia, That the office of