Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-09-13
PROTECT OUR SEED OYSTERS

PROTECT OUR SEED OYSTERS.
Under this caption the Cape Charles
Light recently had a lengthy edito-
rial, the gist Of which may be
summed up in the following ex-
tract:
ut has been mooted question In
commercial circles whether protection
or free trade is best for the industries of
the country, but the time Is now at hand
when the natural resources of the East
ern Shore need protection in its truest
sense. The seed oysters of Northamp-
ton county, especially on the seaside,
are one OF the greatest sources OF indus
try we have, furnishing, as they do,
basis OF supply for the planter and
shipper of these delicacies.
ut is well-known feet that while the
natural rocks on the seaside are very
prolific, yet, year after year, boats from
the bayside and from the seaside of Ac-
comac county comprise the majority of
those engaged In taking oysters from
Northampton waters To the almost de-
pletion OF our natural rocks. From the
hrst OF the oyster season until about
Christmas the bayside boats flock 10 the
Potomac river in search of natural
growth oysters for market, and take out
license sor that purpose, which is sepa-
rate and distinct from the seaside H.
cense. Having long ago depleted the
natural beds on the bayside of Accomac
these boats are compelled to seek the
western Shore aud the Potomac river
as basis OF supply for marketable oys-
ters. After Christmas they return homo
and are fitted up for the seaside"
In advocating better protection to
Virginia's seed oysters our Cape
Charles contemporary but echoes
the sentiment which seems to per-
wade oil Tidewater. How to do it
eifectually is question which has
confronted many minds, and which
is as yet an unsolved problem. An
other point is also here drawn out
that has long been a subject of in
terest to certain localities-which is,
How to prevent rowing bands of
oystermen from working upon rocks
distant from their abodes and the
localities where they license. The
oyster laws permit any citizen of the
State to catch oysters from the natural
rocks wherever found within our linn
its. For this purpose registration and
license must be obtained from some
inspector. doubtless there are many
who do not comply with the license
provisions and escape punishment.
lnfractions occur often among the
migratory class-composed mostly of
negroes. The complaint touched on
by our contemporary is of much mo-
ment to the oyster people of the
Potomac, Rappahannock, James and
other rivers of the State. Whole
colonies of oystermen-mostly COL
ored, as stated-moye from one oys-
ter ground to another, according to
the advantages offered, after having
depleted the rocks in the vicinity of
their homes. For instance, hum
dreds of "York rivermen" will be
found living in boats or rudely con-
structed shanties on the shores of
the Rappahannock, where they have
gone to work, and occasionally a
miniature war RACES between them
and the Rappahannock people. The
Potomac and James river people
in turn complain Of colonies
from the Rappahannock and East
ern Shore during certain seasons
"depredating," as they view it, upon
their rightful possessions.
Many of these predatory people
pay no license, while those that do
are reported from the inspector and
district where they reside. There is
some excuse, then, in the resident
oysterman objecting to this influy.
composed for the greater part as it is
of a shiftless class, while the resi-
dent taxpayer has to be satisfied with
what is left by the human locust.
For the most part the stationary
oysterman is man of family and
oftentimes heavy taxpayer to the
State.
Though often agitated there seems
little solution for the trouble. The
only feasible suggestion is the one
that is always shunred by the legis-
lator, for it is as much as his politi-
cal scalp Is worth to deal with it.
The idea Las been presented that
the law should be changed so as tc
prohibit an oysterman from working
IN any other than the district in
which he resides and is licensed
This would solve the question
though it's hardships would bear
upon large class of people, for tn,
most part colored tongmen. Fred
ericksbary Free Lance.