Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
FISH AND OYSTERS.
Position of Gloucester and Mathews
on the Laws Relating Thereto.


Woods X Roads, Va, March /, 1899.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Recently there appeared in the Dispatch
on several occasions. some criticisms
about the counties OF Gloucester and
Mathews in connection with the fish and
oyster laws l have no idea that the
comments were intended to do injustice
to our people, but they We're made WITH
out the authors being properly informed.
Ii is claimed that the counties OF GlOuces-
ter and Mathews have IAN apparent
organized effort" TO prevent the STATE
Board OF Fisheries" from enforcing the
laws. land the board and inspectors are
being much hindered,' etc. (See Dlspatch
of February 5. 1881 In same issue, re-
ferring to FISH laws" one Of our best
Underwater citizens said: THE great ma
tority of the people like the law. Inc
legislature did a fine piece or work When
Il passed it," In an editorial in the DIS
patch Of February II, 1899 C'Oysters ana
Poiitics'D which evidently was written
In consequence Of an article In the cape
Charles Light. the view IS presented
quoting from Cape Charles bght-that III
one or Two counties few people are
lighting 1t VigOrOusy"-meanlng the
Board Of Fisheries act" About this edi-
torial | will refer again. l propose Is
place these two counties properly before
he public. There is no hght-"organized
effort" against the Board OF FISHERIES ;
there is an organized effort NOT APP
parent" but real-against the ish license
law passed by the last Legislature. SIEVE
raj weeks ago 1 wrote an article eNpialh-
ing the duties of the Board OF t1sheIles'
aud published IT in the Plain Dealer ne
board is doing its work all right IL nus
cannot alter. change, amend, or suspend
a law; as it is written, ii must De exc
cuted. and If any person wishes TO test
any law the courts are open 10 all
and pending the matter in the courts 'he
board keeps hands off. We are fortunate
I'm having good men on the board Inc
board has had the laws better eNeculeu,
Have l written so all can uhueIs'anu
about "the boardY =.
Rnt the pound-net fishermen are fight
inc IN the courts the fish license law,
nassed March 3, 1SgS (See Acts OF As
sembly. iSg7-'9S; chapter $50; PAGES S04' So''
and 500 This law is given in charge TO
the board TO have executed
In Mathews county there are eighty
four indictments against pOund-net hsh-
ermen; one case has been tried IN County
Court, and now pending in circuit Court
4, will be argued and decided IN a Few
Ter Of warrants have been issued ana
served on the pOund-net fishermen. The
Indictments and warrants are pending
awaitin. decision of the test case. Gan
ANYTHING more be done? As the test-case
Is fnally, desided, the same fate viii at
tend all the indictments and warrants. l
do not know OF any ono IN those TWO
counties who thinks this fish license law
ix "a fine piece OF work. II this hsh-
a.. ~ .
Appeals. then vested rights VIII be de-
stroxod which have been enjoyed from
,hs commencement of Colonial days
down 20 March 3. 1898; rights IN free ilsh-
ing I'm the tidal waters of Virginia. More
than two centuries and half have the
people OF tho Colony and citizens or the
state been free TO fish without paving a
revenues tax--for tho privilege. We be-
live II is enc or those rights that 'he
Legislature cannot tax.
nv reference 20 the act quoted above,
tho following is found in section "a
specifio ucense-tax which shall be In lieu
OF al taxes levied upon such persons for
the taking and catching FISH or Tor sell
ing the products thereof" In the Tax
Laws OF Virginia" commissioners Of the
revenue ara required In assessing person
al property 90 assess the folowins'
Schedule "B," paragraph eight-"Ihe
aggregate value OF all farming imple-
ments, pound nets. and seines intended 81
used for the catching or taking Of fish.
Every fisherman pays his State and eoun-
" taxes. and when he pays this SPECIFIC
licsnse-tax. is II not double taxation,
which Ia unconstitutional, and does not
the act itself say In words, ''in lieu" &C.
and should the fishermen be required e
pay both? 1873
IL is surprising. Let law pertaining
10 fsh or oysters be tested In the courts
ana you can hear harsh criticisms, sucf
as. The oystcrmen and fishermen don
wsat ~ pay any taxes. Amy other law