The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28
OYSTER OUTLOOK
NOT ENCOURAGING
More Stringent Laws Necessary
to Prevent Their Destruction.
THE NORTH CAROLINA NAVY
Cts Admiral an Old Sea Dog Who Knows
His Business, but His Fleet is Too
Small to Cope Successfully
With Pirates.
THE NORTH CAROLINA NAVY
Ry Fred B. warren)

WASHINGTON, n. c.. September 81
At this season OF the year most OF the
papers In the coastal towns are discuss
.ng tho oyster outlook FOR the winter
months. That the oyster growth Of the
States OF Virginia and North Carolina
is decreasing. Is not matter OF con-
lecture. but an actual fact, proven by
the statements of men who have work
ed tho beds all OF their lives.
] was talking to an oysterInan the
other day, who has been engaged in the
work for thirty years. His views on the
matter are entitled to consideration.
Unless moro stringent laws are passed
to keep the oyster pirates off the beds
II will be a matter OF about four or five
years when Il will be an impossibllity 10
gather q boat load of oysters in this
section, he said earnestly. And the
Illicit work Is not confined to what VIC
,erTn pirates. 1t is done by the legi-
innate oystermen. For several years
there has been little pretense at culling
the small undergrown oysters from the
grown ones. They are taken up with
drcdges and tongs and dumped into the
tubs without being assorted or culled ut
all In their race for the factories they
overlook the great harm they are doing.
North Carolina was the first State in
the Union to form an oyster commits
sion, and put a miniature man of-war on
the sounds as patrol One boat Lilly,
in charge Of a crew. have looked after the
interests of the State. Some newspapers
have ceemed it their privilege, not know
ing the facts, 10 criticise the commanders
Of this boat from time to time.
AN OLD SEA DOG.
The Lilly is in charge Of Captain James
X Eatton. Captain Hatton has been
seaman all his life and during his
career he has been enlisted in the payics
of four nations of the world. He is
man that knows the duties OF the
oysterrnan and the inspector, for he
was born near the waters of this sec
ton. The fact that oysters are still
taken UP without being culled does not
make 1t tustiEable 10 attack the boat and
crew. The truth Of the matter, is that
one boat Is not enough TO cope with the
pirates from neghborins States, and at
the same time look after the Illicit
dredgers Of the State of North Caro-
lima.
Apropos of the oyster interests. there
Will be an interesting fight in the North
Carolina Legislature this year. Rep
resentatipe William G. Lucas, who
figured in q sketch in your pap-- several
weeks aso. is 10 force a bill that will
protect the beds IN the future. To make
Ills piII eiLtCilNe the oyster. p3tTOl VIII
be far more vigilant. Members of the
Legislature from the western part of
the State have promised to aid him. and
the stopping Of the ravages on the beds
may be looked out for
LACK OF PROTECTION
Like the lobster and crab. the fast
disappearance OF the oyster has been
through the lack OF protection afforded
them by the State. Oysters. like every
thing else, have TO establish q reputation.
The Lynnhaven Of Virginia, coming from
bay OF that name have done this Oyster
shippers IN this section are building lIp
a name for an oyster that is an equal
OF any found on the Atlantic coast This
one comes from Far Creek, in HYDE
county
Hyde county raises everything and
raises them well, but poor transporta-
ton facilities keep them off the market.
With the lettering of these facilities
their oysters are becoming far better
known
/ have looked into the oyster question
in this section of the State very care
fully, and this article gives the true
condition on the beds. again wish
to say that such censure as the press
has been giving The commander of the
Lilly and its crew is undeserved, and
has come about by the papers not being
familiar with the true conditions