The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-11

tended to establish q planting industry.
"Under the efficient management Of
Captain James 3. Baylor, an able Of
ficer in the United States service, the
survey of the natural oyster rocks OF
the Commonwealth has been completed.
The survey shows that Virginia owns
204, $50 acres OF natural oyster beds of an
actual and immense money value. These
beds have been set aside for the eXclu
Sive use of our oySterlnen. Having IA
vored this class of our citizens SO highly.
the Commonwealth should not hereafter
tolerate any interference or dictation on
their part as to the disposition OF her
oyster planting area. or the methods to
be employed TO make it profitable for
revenue.
THE survey has also laid the founda-
ton Of the planting industry. There can
not hereafter be any question as TO what
constitutes the barren area of Virginia,
and secure titles can now be offered to
planters.
The belief that the oyster ROCKS Of Viz
GINA or any other State are ineXhausti-
bic IS erroneous lrrefutable evidences is
found on every hand that our rocks are
fast being depleted, and, unless gen
eral strike of young oysters soon &C.
ours, the industry depending on their sup
ply Will be sadly crippled. The cause of
this is found in Il common law OF nature
land, whether above or below the water,
which is constantly cropped and never
fortified. eventually ceases to yield
There are thousands of acres OF bot
toms in the Chesapeake Bay proper that
are proitleSS because our citizens have
neither the capital nor the experience
needed for deep-water planting. To pre-
vent non-residents from leasing this area
is to pursue q 'dog-in-manger' policy and
results in rotloing ourselves Of revenue.
Oyster planting is farming. The main
difference between planting potatoes and
planting oysters is, that potatoes grow
on land above the water and oysters
grow on land under the water The
farmer does not refuse 10 lease his lands
to persons coming from other States. and
why should the Commonwealth act dlf-
ferently in regard to the Chesapeake bot
toms? It is the duty OF eur citizens to
make their waste lands productive; it Is
correct in principle and sound as bust
ness proposition.
AGAINST OYSTER PIRATES.
It required no little courage and inoe-
pendence in a Tidewater man to talk
ike this in 1888.
1t was also during the administration
OF Dr. Bowdoin as Fish Commissioner
that the State adopted that vigorous pol
icy Of defending our waters against the
oyster pirates from Maryland and other
States which finally put a stop to the
depredations OF these Inarauders.
DIR, Bowdoin continued 10 hold the Of
flee of fish commissioner until the spring
of 1898, when the law creating the Board
OF Fisheries was enacted. He was q can
didate for chairman of the board, but
Governor Tyler appointed Dr.. Frank
Fletcher, who has just completed four
years of valuable service to the State.
About sixteen years ago DIR. Bowdoin
married Miss Flora Himel. OF louisiana,
lady of distinguished lineage and many
g,aces OF person iand character. Mrs.
Bowdoin's untimely death last December
came as a terrible afiiiction TO her hus-
band, who was Geyotedly attached TO her.
Dr. Bowdoin's only child, Miss Margaret,
IS . student at the Episcopal Female
Seminary at Chatham.
With such a chairman and such CO.
y orkers as Senator Keezell and Score
tary Miller. the two members retained
from the former board and Mess,s. Ty-
Ter and Camp the two new members, it
is safe TO predict that the administration
of the oyster and fish interests of the
state for the next four years will be
marked by Yigor. courage and wisdom.
Mrs. Soffel Sentenced to Prison.
(By Associated Prcss.)