Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-08-01
TEE PASSING OF THE ROCKS.
A Note of Warning to Oyster
men and Legislators.

men and Legislators.
1t is only question of few
years when the supply of seed oys-
tiers from this source = even with
the best possible protection-will be
entirely exhausted. This prediction
is based upon a knowledge of the
physical condition of these beds that
dates from the present time, back
over a period of forty years. At
and before that period, Chincoteague
and its tributary bays and creeks
were rich in natural oysters-these
first passed away; then came ASA
waman; at that time every bay and
stream there literally teeming with
them. Now they are gone. Kego-
tank, Gargatha, Metompkin, Wach-
apreague-and their thousands of
broad acres-and their millions of
bushels of seed, in turn, yielded to
the Unsuitable nav of the modern
eplcure. Where were then virgin
fields of untold oyster wealth now,
through the improvidence, short
sightedness and greed of man, We
have only worthless mud banks Oys-
termeu, with thoughtlessness that
was suicidal in its result. went
upon these rocks with pick, rake
and shovel, taking from them every
oyster, every shell-every "blister;"
leaving not an atom Of any kind
upon which spawn could catch aud
grow. The tides swept over them,
mud settled upon them, burying
them forever from the sight aud use
of man. This process is still going
on; it is progressive-steadily work
ing southwark = until now il has
reached the uttermost ends of the
peninsula. No laws that are possi-
ble and no power that is available
can stay this inevitable result. Why
should any class of our oystermen
indulge themselves in the fatuous
dream that our rocks can be de-
pended upon for any time by any
possible process of law to furnish a
supply of seed oysters to them,
while Others, more practical in meth
DDS and with keener insight into
the actual future condition of our
rocks, are grasping every acre of
available planting ground and work.
ing silently but surely to fortify
themselves against the fate that is
sure soon to befall their less wary
brothers.
1t is as plain TO our mind as any,
thing in the future can possibly be
to mortal man that the only saliva
ton for the rock-workers, the tong
ers and their families-both on the
sea and on the Bays to procure at
once, if possible, before 1T is too late,
sufficient planting ground according
to their prospective needs and ac-
cording to their ability to use it. In
our opinion, though we regret to
say it, ten years will not have passed
away before the man who is not a
planter, either large or small, will
not be in the oyster business at all.
This result is inevitable. Forty
years ago rocks were bristling with
seed oysters everywhere. Then but
one or two workers were on the
rock. Twenty years later there were
a dozen workers on it, and shells
and few small oysters were all
they found. Ten years later there
were twenty workers on the same
rock and they found nothing but
shells and carried even them off.
Now there are thirty workers that
would go on that rock if there was
any thing left but a mud bank to 90
upon. The problem presents the situ-
alton of fewer rocks, fewer seed and
more oystermen every year. The end
is but question of time. 1t is now
almost in sight. Is there a remed v?
For the rocks, No. For the OYSTER
men, Yes. Pile petition on top of
petition, if necessary, before your
lawmakers, askipg-nay, demanding
if need be-that every man should
be given a chance, should have a
show in the mad scramble now
| going on for the remaining planting
grounds in the State. Ask them to
cut down at once the excessive acre
age a man can now hold. From $50
acres reduce it to 50--aye to 10, or
to 5, even-if thereby it becomes
necessary to give to every worthy
and needy son Of Virginia a fair and
just share of this God-giyen heritage
of ours. Then every man will own
at once both his seed-bed and his
planting ground. 1t would be fairer
to oystermen and better both for
the people and the State that $50
planters should have 10 acres each
rather than that 10 planters should
have $50 acres each. The principle
that legislation should be for the
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der should control in this matter as
well as in all other matters in a
Democratic Government. The Good
Book tells Us that man who don't
provide for his family is worse than
an infidel. What can be said then
of State that studiously fails to
care for its struggling and worthy
poor?-AcC0mac Neys.