Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-07-06
Friday, july Is, 1900.
A QUESTION FOR oYsTERMEN.

a SOESI1ON FOR OYSTERMEN.
1t does not take seer to discern
that the time is drawing near wher
vital change will be made in the
present status of the Virginia oyster
industry. The cry of "wolfo ha:
been heard so often from politician:
that there is some excuse for tn,
oystermen in refusing to believe thai
the day will ever come when the
privileges which they enjoy will Ii
taken from them. But when this
end is reached the tongmen must
blame themselves as much as anyone
else. The writer of this has watched
their Interests and the oyster indus
try for many years and does not
hesitate to declare that the lack OF
harmony and concert of action on
the part of the tongmen is one of the
causes which will eventually result
In depriving them of the rights which
they have hitherto enjoyed. Another
potent cause will be found in the
unsatisfactory manner in which they
have paid the license tax-if it NAV
be so termed.
Every year has seen the stakes
encroaching more and more upon the
natural rocks. Every two years has
seen the halls of the State Legisla-
tnre besieged by persons asking con-
cesslons, some of them being Vir-
giniaus, others non-residents. Against
this the oystermen have offered but
feeble resistance, because there was
lack of concerted action, and virtually
only the representatives of Underwater
(less than fifth of the whole have
been left to battle for their rights.
During the term of the Legislature
which has just closed the wedge that
will finally open the whole was
entered. Permission was given
planters to dredge their grounds with
the consent of the Board of Fisheries.
This was one stroke; another was
ttat surveyor may be employed by
the Board to survey contested
grounds. The decision of this sur
veSor and the decision of the Board
Will most probably be accepted as
hnal In the courts. We do not saw
that the latter provision was a bad
one; certainly it cannot work harm
so long as the members of the Board
: are fair-minded men and have all of
the varied water interests equally at
heart But how about the matter if
partisan members should be selected
Many have experienced the baneful
results which have occurred from
The occasional appointment of biased
or dishonest inspectors. The same
will apply, and to larger and more
disastrous degree, if the Board should
at any time become corrupt. So
while there may be no immediate
danger on this line there is possibility
of danger in the future.
We have seen the dangers ahead
OF the industry for sometime but as
we had no remedy to offer in the past. !
or even now, it is with hesitancy that
che matter is alluded to. But we
cannot longer refrain from warning
our people, probably for the last time. |
what is in store for them. We see
no remedy, We see no help in the
usual order of things. Two years
will hardly pass, IN our opinion,
before the wedge, which has already
been started, will be well ON the way
70 Its final mission, and 1t will be
out matter of few more Years
before the seam will cease TO he
only a crack and become fully opened
When that time comes there will Ia
scramble-"ilka mon for bi'self
and the dell take the Utmost,
We do not censure those who ae.
lulre shores in the legitimate way
lt is but natural that they should
want good thing while it is golnp,
md if it has the sanction of law thew {
ire not only legally protected but are i
exercising right for which they
'annot be blamed. Were it in our
Inc OF business we should undoubted-
y use every legitimate means to {
cquire shore. And that is lust g
'hat many of those who now have v
lone and who look with horror upon 8
taklng-in ground will do when the n
comes. And their actions Ii
I'LL be perfectly justifable when the Il
warrant. In that day the 7
of the masses will be fl
eplorable, while those who have OF
cen fortunate enough to provide n,
sainst the evil day will be fortunate.
We dread to see the dav come hut M