The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-23
STATE BOARD
OF FISHERIES
Report Completed After a Two Days.
Session.
MADE A FINE SHOW IN G.
1ndus.,v. Once a Charge Upon the
Commonwealth, Has Already Be
como a Source OF Consider
able Revenue.
MADE A FINE SHOW IN G

THO ;S,,ta Board of FisheriEts adjourned
1,st n;oht after a session of two days, t.e-
vorsH almost exclusively TO the prepard-
ton OF its annual report to the Governor.
Tho renort. th=i manuscript of which VIII
he placed in the hands OF thA printer 10
day, shows, in accordance W-'A the lore
cast made in The Times OF yesterday tlat
the oyster industry. Wnlch was ohcS' d
charge upon the Commonwealth. has, I'M
7r,c tho sunerb MANAGEMENT of the Board
and the laws passed upon its recommen-
dalton. EoecomA a source Of considerable
revenue to the state. with every assurance
os increase as the system under WHICH II
is working becomes more perfect.
The Numbers of the Board had been in
Office. thirty months On the 10Th day OF last
Septemb.@, which vas the end OF the
fiscal year.
ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.
notwithstanding he fact that they found
Tidewater and the upland sections OF tbs
State at wal, on the subject of oysters, and
the industry itself in a chaotic condition,
they have uarmonized all the factions, got
ten the wise statutes passed 10 working
well. and, besides defrayinS all the eX-
penses OF the Board, had surveys made OF
planting grounds i'll two counties ana
turned into the treasury. clear OF all eA-
penses, about $4,000, or an average Oh
more IMAM S2otb per IIUill III III lti->SS. -
report OF the Board. which is a lengthy
document, besid;s making the admirable
financial showing given above, deals mi
nutsEy with the work OF the oyster inspec-
tors of the state: shows that as a rule
the planters along the coast have respect
ed the recsut oyster laws, and states
the condition OF the OystAr Navy to De
good. The report also calls attention to
thJ difficulty of collecting taxes from
tonsers taking oysters from natural beds,
on account of the provisions of the pres
ert constitution on the subject; points out
thd wisdom of the amendments suggested
to the last Legislature. and recommends
theGr incorporation in the proposed new
constitution.
WILL INCREASE ANNUALLY.
It also INDUCES the belief that from
pres.int indications there will DE q large
annual increase in the revenues result
ing to the State from the oyster industry
and appeals to all parties interested TO
cooperate with tbs Board in carrying out
the laws bearing upon the oyster subject
All the members of the Board remained
here throughout the entire proceedings
and each one contributed his share to the
laborious work of compiling the report.
They attendeH the Bjou in a body after
finishing up last night, and will leave for
their respective homes to-day. Following
are the members of thai Board:
DR.. Frank Fletcher (chairman), Acco-
mac: Captain Seth $. Miller Secretary,
Mathews; Captain John A. Curtis, Rich
1ncnd: Senator George B. keeZel!. Rocking
ham: Hon. Pembroke Petit, Fluvanna.
Much of the credit for the successful
solution of the oyster question is accorded
on all hand to DR.. George w. LeCato, of
Accomac, who. although a Tdewatsr rep
resentative. introduced and pushed through
both Houses tbs. bills which created the
Board of Fisheries and placed the industry
at oncer in a position to yield handsome
revenue to the State.
Governor Tyler is also commended for
taking, as members of the Board, men from
differsRlt sections OF the State, who by
their energy and intelligence have contri-
buted so much TO ths; successful manage
ment OF the veNed question, and who are
destinsl to make still greater strides along
the lines mentioned above.'