The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-12-21
BOARD OF FISHERIES REPORT


of which We have received through
the courtesy of the Chairman. DR..
Frank Fletcher. affords interesting
reading. Astudy of it revealsamong
statistical and other facts the fol-
lowing;
The wisdom oithe Board in getting
rid OF large and expensive boats and
replacing them with smaller ones.
far better adaptedto the needs ofthe
service than larger craft. 1t would
be we'll if the Board should ask and
the legislature grant a sufficient ap-
preparation to place motor launches
in each OF the important rivers and
places in the Bay where Clustering
is carried on. This would more Ell
iectively execute the Gull law and at
the same time stop the thieying OF
oysters. This latter is becoming one
Of the most important phases OF the
oyster industry.
Tie result OF the special resurvey
is very gratifying. i'm that it Is pro
ducing larger returns 70 the State
because of increase in the acreage Of
planting ground occupied over what
had been previously reported. As
we understand it many pieces OF oyS-
ter ground held by planters contain
ed. under accurate survey. a greater
number OF acres than the holders had
been paying tax upon. This work
should be continued. for which pur-
pose the legislature Is asked TO
make suitable appropriation. 1t
should be remembered that all the
returns from the oyster fund not
utilized for scheduled expenses l.
turned into the State treasury, and
this is annually neat sum. To eX-
pend a sum for a purpose out OF the
routine must be by sanction OF the
Legislature. Hence the reason for
requesting appropriations.
The report hintsat tie desirability
and probability of removal OF the
restriction under Section , OF Article
10 Of the Constitution, which pre-
vent specific tax from being laid
upon tongers. The Board might
have gone further and suggested the
ACCESSIBILITY Of specific tax being
levied. but with a maximum limit.
An unexpected feature is how small
q number Of persons are directly en-
gagged in taking oysters, asshOwn by
the report OF inspectors. There are
5,s46 who pay the specific tax OF -;
$40 who take weekly reporting Il
censes; 246 patent tOngers, and 49,
dredging licenses, engaging about
2,5OO persons in the latter branch
OF the business. The number en-
gagged in dredging is far in excess OF
what was commonly supposed, while
the number OF tongers was way be
low the general belief.
The recommendations as TO uni
formity Of rental tax and riparian
ownership appear to be good ones.
Probably the recommendation o,
all that is OF more direct import to
theindustry is that OF shortening the
season for taking oysters. This
would have a manifold bearing. 1t
would mean greater protection to
seed oysters; better results attained
by growing oysters; more money to
the Oystermen, as the catch would
probably be as great in six months
a. in eightand prices would be better,
since in The first and last months
only a low price is gotten for the
catch. 1t would give the waterman
more time on land to SOW his crops
and gather them-ior nearly al Oys-
termen are obliged 10 supplement
their earnings from the water by
products from the land. Not the least
of the benefits would accrue 20 the
farmer As it is now farming has
gotten 20 a low ebb in those counties
of Tidewater whore Clustering is
largely carried on. The farmer can
get no help when needed 70 SOW his
early crops, nor to gather his crops
in the fall, since the labor Of these
counties flock TO their boats III the
early days OF fall when the seasonior
catching oysters opens, and do not
give it up "until the last horn blows"
as the saying goes.
In Surveyor Warwick's report we
find that about one-third of the nat
uralrocks OF Isle OF Wightcounty had
been stuck up by planters. This may
or may not hold good throughout
the other counties. He recommends
that heavy penalties represented for
any planter who wantonly removes
oyster stakes from shores which Dor
der on the natural rocks after being
placed by a surveyor or inspector,
and also punishment for the destruc-
ton OF the shore stations and marks
OF the Baylor survey.
The Board reports net revenue Of
S103,272.72 to the State from it's
management OF oyster affairs from
March, 1898, to September, 1901
\ L