The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-31
PROPOSED CHANGES
IN The OYSTER Law
Report Of the legislative
Committee.
VALUES OF SHELL FISH
Great Negligence and Ineficiency I'm
der Thsophilus White.
MANY THsUSAND DOLLARS DUE STATE
The Steamer Lille Was Used for Private Gain
While il Was Being Maintained at
The States Expense For
Patrol Boat.
VALUES OF SHELL FISH
Great Negligence and Ineficiency I'm
der Theophilus White.
MANY THsUsAND DOLLARS DUE STATE

The committee appointed by the Leg
islature to investigate the shell-fish
Gains we're also directed by the General
Assembly to make such recommendations
for the management and promotion Of the
oyester industry as might be deemed for
the public good and the best interest OF
the State.
In pursuance of this instruction the
committee in it's forthcoming report will
make the following recommendations:
l. Dredging ought not to be prohibited
in any unsheltered waters nor in any
sheltered waters over eight feet in depth.
THE conflict between the dredging and
longing interests in the past has been
difficult and embarrassing, and is yet far
from satisfactory settlement. 1t depends
upon wise and just limitation of dredg-
ing, with it's superior mechanical appli-
ances, to particular waters, with respect
to their depths, leaving the longer free
from its competition to operate in those
waters, which, from their shallowness.
are alone adapted to these appliances.
Restrict dredging unduly and
you restrict. in consequence, the opera
tion of the factory without assurance OF
resulting benefit to the grounds. and drive
the first fruits OF the industry beyond the
State. Foster dredging with proper limi-
tations, and you bring the factory to the
State that will be sure to create a suffi-
cient market to consume the entire pro-
duct Of our waters and place the State
in position to prevent the expectation
of the raw material (that is. the un-
shucked oyster) out of its territory with
practical and beneficent results. as the
other States of the Union are doing and
threatening to do"
2. Increase the rebate instead of re-
ducing the rate of taxation imposed on
the buyer and the boat owner.
THE rebate Is an inducement offered
by the State to the world to come within
it's borders, establish shocking, canning
and other manufacturing enterprises, and
create a market at our doors. If. as it
is commended, the burden OF this tax rests
upon the original catcher, by the same
reasoning it will be seen that the increase
of the rebate would lift it to the same
extent as a direct reduction Of the tax
imposed in the first instance
3. Closer inspection and more careful
culling of oysters.
THE culling of the oyster and the re-
turning of the Gull to it's rock is feature
of the law that has been most made
quate in the past, to say nothing Of the
inattention and inefficient execution it
has been given by the agents of the law,
and from its direct Importance to the
development OF the beds. cannot receive
too careful attention. 1t is the only pro-
lection given to the beds from reckless
waste that yields no profit to the invader.
We recommend that inspection shall, In
every instance. consist of an actual ex-
animation and measuring before culling
board ESQ far as any doubt OF the quality
of the oyster should make it necessary
of every 18th bushel of the cargo, and
the raising of the standard size from
two and one-half inches as now, to three
inches, as is the practice in most OF the
States. This we do not think impracti-
cbale.''
A. Establishment OF competent and
efficient method of collecting taxes.
This is one obvious and dangerous i'm
perfection in the law, and to the present
requirement that the inspector shall re-
cord and report his own collections, we
would add that he report every vessel,
owner and cargo by bushels, passing his
station, together with all receipts in pos
session Of the captain for taxes thus paid
to inspectors in the manner indicated.
under oath. We have discovered evil
dences of irregularities in these transact
tons. while insufficient to secure convic-
tion under Indictment, of very objec-
tionable character. in the way of COM
promises of the amount of tax due on
the cargo; of the captain and inspector
gambling on the boat with the crew,
where in one instance the tax so collect
ed is said to have gone to make up the
Jack pot, and of actual rivalry between.
the inspectors at these stations in per-
suading captains to pass their way, and
offering to make the collections low
An effective system of checks and
balances is of the first necessity to the
machinery of the oyster law. =
Reports, under OATH, ought to be made
weekly by all deputies to their chief.
showing their collections as fully as pos
sihle."
4. TO permit indictments for it's viola
tion to be found and tried in other coun-
ties than in those where the infringe
ment is committed or those bordering on
the waters wherein they are committed.
so persistent is the public impression
that the property in the oyster is, or
ought to be, correspondent to the rights
OF the citizen to the public waters. that a
stubborn resistance exists in the oyster
sctions among that large class immedi-
ately connected with the interest, to the
extent that in many instances indict-
ments and presentments for the most
fragrant and defiant infringements OF the
law have failed before grand juries COM
posed of the best order of our citizenship,
to the complete undoing of the law en-
acted, not only for the immediate protec-
tion Of the interest of the State. but for
the protection of the private rights OF
property.
5. That the State continue to maintain
and operate the steamer Lille as pa
troll boat.
THE slightest insight into the require