The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-23
mn OYSTER QUESTION AGAIN.
Another side OF the Oyster scarcity
Question.

Editor Morning News. In an article APP
pearlng oct 20 I underworld 70 correct
some statements which haI been publish
cd the preceding day relative 10 ,he oyster
Industry 10 this state Monday issue Of
your valuable paper contains reply
from Mr. @ " Beckett Boz viii. he
makes charges against number of par
ties. and asserts that the rehts OF tn
oysteruen viii be tested Mr. Beckett
has made these charges before ans they
formed the basls OF MS arguments ard
pleadings iu Two cases the decision OF
which completely rcfut,d the charges. aud
tested nnd determined the oyster laws.
To September 1899 Mr. Beckett as
guardian Of the rights Of The public ard
in behalf OF forty-four oystrrmen. died a
petition against Capt Ocmicr. ami oh
taiued an order restraining him from in-
tcrfcring with his clieuts These men. ad-
mllt.dly iusolvent then went upon the
private oyster beds % Cant. Ocmler. by
advice OF their counsel ana took about
s. 90 worth OF oysters. AZ the frst hear
ing Of this petition, the demurrer offered
by Capt Ocml,r was sustained he re-
tition dismissed and the injunction against
him dissolved by the court
Ia October. lsge. capt Oemler filed his
petition against these men claiming that
the acts o. himself and his predecessors
we're legal ana proper. that his territory
embraced no natural oyster beds, aud thai
his leases were lawful. and he obtained an
Injunction which forbade these men from
trespassing upon his grounds.
At the hearing issue was taken on Ihese
facts. and the oyster laws were assailed.
The case went 20 the Supreme Court.
That court sustained the action OF the
lower court and continued the injunction
against these men. Il sustained the action
of Capt Oemler and his associates u eX-
pressed the opinion that the oyster law
was constitutional: decided against every
contention Of law that Sir. Beckett made,
and held that Every material allegation
OF fact in plaintiffs (OomlerEl petition
was sustained by the overwhelming
weight o. testimony introduced on the
TRIAL" Upon these issues therefore y ~
manifest that MIR Beckett has not been
sustained
The real questions however. are wheth-
er the supply Of oysters Is In fact dimln-
hing. u so what f. causing the itiii"s
n. ana how can 10 be rcmedted
The complaints 81 local dealers ana
housekccpers demonstrate that the sup
ply 81 dencient and. 10 my mind. the r.
sponsibinty rests upon the opponents OF
the laws and their methods. Whist our
factories use a great many oysters the
factories IN other states ikewise use
great many. and yet where they are 10
cated oysters are not scarce on the con-
trary they are very p.eutiml. ana TINS i
due TO careful and extensive cultivation
under protective laws, which are enforg-
ID In Chatham county al o. the avail
able territory has by no means been ap-
propriotei on the contrary Capt. Gem
Ter has frequently offered 10 locate
grounds suitable for oyster culture. and
has Altered % donate 90 the parties taking
up the ground the shells necessary for
planting.
Tho remedy with ms Is plain. Il IS id'e
to light aaginst laws which have been
sustained by the courts when acqulee-
cauce in such decisions and Observance 81
tho laws VIII give employment 10 all
cIasscs. restore the public beds. and en-
able the private beds 10 Increase exceed
ingly ard contribute more freely to pubic
and private consumption. Very respect
fuiiy VIM W Gordon. Jr.