Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-02-22
OYSTERS THE TOPIC.
Some Interesting Matters Per-
tanning to this Subject, in and
out of the Legislature.

Some Interesting Matters Per-
tanning to this Subject, i'm and
out of the Legislature.
Inspector A. +. Segar, of Middle
sex, through the Sentinel, says that
the reports of Middlesex Justices
decision, based upon the measure
ments of small oysters, taken on the
curved side, are erroneous. This
point, Mr.. Segar claims, bad nothing
to do with the decision, but it was
based upon the fact that the justice
was not fully satisfied from the evil
dence that the oysters were measured
at all.
NATURAL OYSTER BEDS.
Hon. S. W. Matthews, of Acco-
mack, says:
"Ihe Baylor survey was necessa-
rily made at high water, and in
many instances these aggregatious
of natural growth were overlooked
aud omitted from the survey, in other
instances through misapprehension,
whole sections of the bay, containing
none of these patches, were entered
upon Baylor's chart as natural rock.
"Two results have followed:
81. Private individuals, under the
law, are taking up and destroying
extensive seed beds.
"2. Extensive planting areas,
which might otherwise be rented out
and yield a revenue to the State, are
improperly locked mp in the Baylor
survey"
DANGER CONFRONTING.
We predict, and reflect seriously,
too, upon the grave danger of it, that
if our oyster legislation falls back
into political channels, good bye Mr.. |
Oystermap; politicians will have
pull for a short season, but the vul-
lures from the north, who have been |
lowering over the State CapitoIs of |
Richmond and Annapolis will, with
one full swoop, absorb us, anl while
we are feasting our eyes on the few
paltry dollars dumped into our cof-
fers, they will be formulating busl-
ness methods, and plans on which
to run their giant trust, and the
curses given the Rockfellars, Have
myer, ct. al. will be nothing as COM
pared with those which we will be
wont to heap on those we once hailed
as our saviors,- Cape Charles Light.
HOT TINES IN LEGISLATURE.
Mr.. Pitcher presented and had
placed on the calendar bill repeal
ing section 2l69 of the Code, in re-
lation to the powers of oyster inspec-
tors.
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
A big discussion was prcclpitated
IN the House when the bill re-
ported from the Chesapeake and
Tributaries Committee to prohibit
the taking of seed oysters from Vir-
ginia waters for planting IN other
States came up. The bill was ad-
vocated by Mr.. Matthews and Mr..
Pettit, having the endorsement of the
Board of Fisheries.
Mr.. Pitcher vigorously opposed the
bill. The oyster industry did not
pay more than a third of the tax it
should pay. eff the thieves who
robbed the oyster beds of the State
in violation of the law could be track
ed, we would need four penilentia-
rles," he declared. He had read from
the clerks desk letter from a gen.
tleman who had testified in an
oyster trial showing that the
Virginia oyster grounds were worth |
more thar a million dollars year to
the State.
lie took advantage of the scope al
lowed to make general speech on
the oyster question, and he SAID he
desired to let the people know that
they were being "bam boozled" by the
oyster section every year. He said
the Tidewater section sent new men
to the House at each session, with
new set of pledges, and when they
failed to get all they wanted a new
set was sent up.
Mr.. Mathews interrupted to say
that he had been in the House for
three terms, and the Fauquier STAR
mer" quickly retorted: eyes, and
you are 'crackerjack' on pledges"
The gentleman from Fauquier
thought the proposed legislation
would be useless, and, moreover, he
jocosely said that certain Virginia
citizens had no more respect for the
laws protecting oysters than did the
depredators at whom the measure
aimed.
Mr.. Pitcher said he stood on the
iloor to champion the rights of the
tongmen. Continuing he brought
down the House when he said he had
once told certain gentlemen that the