The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-16
EXCLUDE NON-RESIDENTS
4 SHELL-FISH COMMISSION Is
APPOINTED.
IT CONSISTS or SEVEN PRISONS
They ShaI! Receive $500 year and Mileage
Expenses of the Commission and all
Agents Must Not Exceed
$4,000 Year.

CUyUOV d ted1.
4 new oyster law was passed by the
recent Legislature.
This law, which was generally agreed
TO by all interested parties, makes some
material changes in the regulations
touching dredging and shipping oysters
out Of the State and reduces the license
and other taxes.
The new act for the general supervis
ion of the shell-ish industry Of the
State provides as follows:
That there shall be seven commission
ers appointed to carry out the laws re-
lating to the shell-fish industry in
North Carolina, their term of office be-
ginning on March 18th and continuing
for two years and until their successors
are elected and qualified These com
missioners are: George ii. Hill. OF
Washington, Beaufort county; Il. ID.
Scarboro, of Avon Dare county: Dan
iel l.. Roberts, of Newbern, Craven
county; Robert w. Wallace, of Beau
fort, Carteret county, G.. c. Allen. Of
Elizabeth City, Pasquotank county: j.
NJ. Clayton, of Engelhard, Hyde county,
and Daniel Il. Hooker. of Bayboro.
ramlico county.
The commissioners shall meet and or
ganize by electing one of their number
chairman and another secretary. and
shall fix the amount of compensation for
this extra service, provided such com
pensation shall not exceed $50 year
Each commissioner shall give bond in
the sum of $500. payable to the state
Treasurer.
The commissioners shall meet an
nually at Newbern, and at such other
times and places as may be deemed ne
cessary upon call of the chairman
Each commissioner shall receive $500
per annum. payable monthly. and mile
age Eat the rate of five cents per mile
in going to and returning from the said
meetings according to the usual route
of travel
At their first meeting the commits
sioners shall lay off the public oyster
grounds and beds into seven districts
and provide methods for collecting and
reporting all taxes and license tax.
The Secretary of State is required to
furnish blank receipt books to the
clerks of court Of the seven counties
named, TO be used by person authorized
TO collect the license and other faxes.
Such tax collectors shall. not later than
the 10th of each month, forward to the
secretary OF the board statement
showing all license issued during the
preceding month. and the amount re-
ceived therefor, and other taxes collect
ed. Suel taxes shall be RENTED TO
the State Treasurer. less the clerk s
commission of ) per cent.
The commissioners shall cause all
oysters caught i'm the waters Of North
Carolina to he culled on the oyster beds
where taken To this end the com
missioners are authorized TO make pro-
vision FOR the inspection of oysters, TO
enforce the laws governing the taking
and handling Of shell fish and prevent
illegal means being used in catching and
shipping oysters aiii other shell-fish.
For this purpose such agents and ser
wants may be employed as the board
may deem necessary and at such com
pensation as it MAJ iiS, provided that no
agent or employee shall receive more
than $40 a month.
The board of commissioners is also
authorized to employ or rent tug
boat or boats for the purpose Of en-
forcing the law, and place thereon the
armament Of the State Police Steamer
Lille, should the said State Police
Steamer Lille become nnseaworthy or
sold"
The expense of keeping the Steamer
Lille is TO be paid out of the shell-ish
fund. 1t is also provided that the Gov
ernor may, should it become necessary
for the enforcement Of the shell-fish
law. call out '.such troops from the
State Guard or naval reserves as may
be needful to arm such steamer
Every person or firm engaged in the
business of canning, packing, shocking
or shipping oysters or other shell-fish
shall, not later than the 10Th day Of
May each year, file with the secretary
Of said board statement, duly sworn
TO before some officer authorized TO ad-
minister oaths showing the number of
bushels or gallons Of oysters purchased
or caught since the first day of May
of the preceding year and 10 whom and
where the said tax thereon was paid.
Ii shall hes unlawful for any vessel
10 take oysters from this TO another
State unless the said oysters have been
duly culled according to law and in
spected by some person authorized SO
10 do. and unless the tax provided by
law shall have been first paid thereon.
Any vessel attempting to violate this
provision may be seized and held ''un-
ill a tax of twenty cents per bushel for
each and every bushel on board OF such
vessel has been paid, together with all
the costs and expenses incurred by rea.
son of Selling said boat. Upon refusal
TO pay such tax the vessel shall be sold
nj public auction after ten days pub
lie notice. and the proceeds Of such sale
shall be devoted TO payment Of the taS
and costs OF seizure and sale of The
vessel Any surplus that there may
be shall go, one half TO the oyster fund
one-fourth TO the person informing anc
one-fourth to the person making th'
seizure.
For the purpose of carrying out this
provision the commissioners or THEN
hut