The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-11
REMARKABLE MAN CHOSEN FOR
CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF FISHERIES
Or. John w. Bowdoin, of Acco.
mac, Giant in Mind and Body.
A STAUNCH PARTY LEADER
He Has Led Democrats of His Section
to Many a Glorious VictorY-Man
of Experience Also, Having
Served in Similar Capacity.

DR.. John w. Bowdoin, whom Governor
Montague recently appointed Chairman
Of the Board OF Fisheries. is one OF the
lest known men in Tidewsater Virginia
he is In the prime OF life, and is giant
in physical proportions. standing more
,l,a, siS feet SIX inches, and Weighing
about two hundred and fifty pounus- lie
comes from one of the Oldest ana ihoSl
III: lngulshed families Of the Eastern
Shore OF Virginia Ore branch Oh the
family settled in New England IN early
colonial times, and enc OF its members
rounded Bowdoin College, Of which
I,nogfeliow and Hawthorne were graou-
:,tps Bowdoia Square in Boston was
also named for the family. Inc Bow
doins of Baltimore, who are members OF
the Eastern Shore branch OF the iainliy,
IRE among the wealthleSt ana mus pio-
naiaent people Of that city.
LOVER OF SPORTS
Tho new chairman of the Board of
Fisheries was born in Northampton
county forty-two years ago. being the
only son CT the late Dr.. John X. Bowdoln,
who for many years was one OF the most
prominent physicians on the Eastern
snore of Virginia. DR. boWooln was
educated at Richmond College, the I'M
yersry If Virginia, the College OF Ply
si5ians and Surgeons OF Baltimore and
IN, ,nnelslty of New York. lie has
siuars been paSSionately fond OIL out
d Dor sports and athletic games, ana Tor
many years after he had reached the
ace OF manhood he participated IN nearly
Ill the great baseball games II ms sec
Hon he is also a great huntsmah, ana
rone ten years ago organized the East
c,n Shore Game Asso9anAonA which
has done so much to protect the game
of that section, and of which he has
been president from its organization.
HARD FIGHTING DEMOCRAT.
Though enjoying an extensive medical
practice he has devoted much OF his time
and energies TO the cause OF the Demo
cratic party. Soon after the disastrous
campaisn OF 1856. in which the Demo-
cratic candidate FOR Congress in the
First District WAS Overwhelmingly de-
fested and the hitherto great Demo-
cratic majority OF Accomac reduced to
barely three hundred, Dr. Bowdoin was
unanimously elected chairman of the
party In that county, and at the next
succeeding election under his vigorous
leadership the old time majority was re-
stored. From time TO time he has been
reelected to the position, and he has
aever allowed the majority in his county
20 fall below the high-water mark. lie
is one of the tiercest political fighters in
the State, and as a presiding officer eN-
hjbits much Of the vigor that character
,zed Thomas B. Reed while Speaker of
tho House of Representatives.. His
methods Of dealing with filhbustering
tactics are said TO surpaSS even those
sf the famous eX-Speaker.
MAN OF EXPERIENCE.
In 1894 DR.. Bowdoin was appointed by
Governor OtFerrali Commis,t oner OF Fish
cries for the State of Virginia, and
though his powers were very limited he
did much to put the fish and oyster IN
dustry on a sound and profitable basis.
II was during his administration that
the Baylor survey of the oyster grounds
was made. and in 1886 he submitted q ,e-
mort on the State fisheries to the Gov
crnor that attracted wide attention and
won high conlmendation from those most
eouyersant with such matters. in this
leoort he called attention to The rapid
disappearance of some OF our most VAL
uabie fish. and urged the Legislature 10
prevent the further destruction "t the
fish by prohibiting the setting OF iykes
and pound nets during the spawning sea
SON In speaking on this subject the re-
port says:
..our custom and policy are far behind
the times, and instead Of protecting and
developing our fish and game. we act Ike
barbarians and destroy them. lie also
urged that !. specific tax of not less than
$40 be put upon each pound net or seine,
and that drastic measures be adopted TO
enforce the law.
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
Touching the oyster industry. which
was then in a declining condition, he had.
among other things, the following TO say:
.OyKtermcn believe the oyster grounds
to be their exclusive property. and 1ecl
that there should BE NJ more restriction
placed upon the taking OF oysters than
rpon the catching of fish. that come and
70 with the seasons They have bitter
", and until lately successfully re-
etrietAd all attempts at legislation In