Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-05-27
Very respectfully,
A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

MIR. EDITOR:-1 noticed in your
last issue an article, signed "Oyster-
man." complaining about the sea-
side oyster law, and the want of
police protection in Accomac. He
incidentally puts into his letter GER
tain mis-statements in regard to this
county, which l desire to correct.
The following are the facts: The
oystermen of Northampton sent me
before the State Board of Fisheries,
at it's March meeting to represent the
condition of affairs on the sea side of
Northampton county, and especially
to call the Boards attention to the
we'll known violations of the oyster
laws as to the close season. l was in
structed to ask for some temporary
police protection until the Board
could complete its arrangements for
a proper and permanent system of
protection. The condition of affairs,
in this county, is somewhat different
from what it is in Accomac. In the
first place, Northampton furnishes
about ten times as many seed as Ac-
comac. Besides the increased tempta-
ton thereby afforded we are not only
exposed to an unlawful element in
Accomac and Northampton. but also
from the Chesapeake Bay, even to
Crisiield In response to the request
of the oystermen, was employed by
the Board as temporary police, the
State did not furnish me a boat, l
fluid my own boat and feed myself
out of my small pay. The Board has
not furnished me a rifle, or even a
cartridge, though 1 am we'll provided
with both. Now if "Oysterman' had
t lken the trouble to have made the
same application he would doubtless
have secured the same result for his
county. He would certainly have
been rendering q better service for
his people than sitting down to COM
plain in order to stir up an unreason,
able prejudice against the law. What
has he expected? There was not a
dollar of this seaside fund collected
until last September; it has been
gradually collected since, but could
not be used by the Board until re-
ported to the Auditor, and set aside
in accordance with law, for police
purposes.
1 understand that there is only
available for this purpose about a
thousand dollars. If this is divided
between the two counties it will give
them only $500, apiece. Does "Oys-
terman" suppose that two boats can
be bought, manned, armed and provi
stoned for six months service out OF
this small sum? He must remember
that this police will be charged with
the duty OF enforcing all the protec
tive laws applying to fish, terrapln'
&C., as well as oysters, and it must be
maintained all summer and will be as
badly needed to enforce the law in
September and October as in May.
Otherwise there will be still smaller
protection next year.
l believe it is the purpose OF the
Board to give the seaside the best
protection that can be afforded out
of the small means at it's command,
vet all this cannot be provided with
out proper time. I understand the
Board has appointed meeting at
Wachapreague to confer with the
oystermen as to the most availa-
BILE plan for carrying out this pur-
pose.
1t seems to me the appointment
must be an earnest of their serious
desire to do the best that can be done
I have satisfied myself that during
the present month the season has
been practically closed on the seas
side. know of my personal know.
ledge that many boats alleged to be
taking seed have been engaged in