Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-02-15


pors are confidently predicting that
Gov. Montague will remove DR..
Fletcher, OF Accomac. from the
craftsmanship of the Board OF Fish
cries, and appoint Lawyer ShuItice'
of Norfolk, in his place. How Tar
this prediction may claim to be In
spired, is not clear; but it is reason-
able to presume that the Governor
is too wise and statesmanlike to or
der such change, in the absence OF
any popular demand, or any ade
ouate reason, to justify It,
II IL we'll known that DR.. Fletcher
has made a most capable and ell
cient officer. No charge of neglect
or incompetency has been laid
against him. On the contrary, the
Tidewater people have been satisfied
with the administration of affairs,
and the up-country people even
gratifled. The present Board have
worked together with commendable
harmony, and the results have been
surprising, in spite OF the arduous
and embarrassing character of their
duties. A revolution has been
brought about in the management OF
our fisheries, a new law enforced, and
a large revenue collected; and GER
tainly with far less friction than
might have been anticipated. Aud
considering the difficulties to be
overcome from the very beginning OF
their task, no higher compliment
could be paid to their Intelligence,
zeal and tact than to point out the
success to which they have already
attained. They have their work now
we'll In hand, and are ready to carry
it forward with that enlarged infor-
nation and technical skill gained
from their four years. experience and
training. To displace any OF them
now, and especially their head, would
be to essay the unnecessary AMI
grave experiment of placing into new
and uutried hands the serious inter
ests OF over a hundred thousand OF
our Tidewater people. | have too
much confidence in the wisdom aud
craftsmanship OF Gov. Montague to
believe It will be done.
And if these several members have
been faithfully performing their
duty, why any change at all? 1t is
an accepted axiom that changes In
the management of all industrial
are made at the risk OF
some peril to vested rights, unless
for good and sufficient cause. Busi-
ness men are chary of investing
money, and embarking in enter
prises, where conditions lack neces-
sary flrmness and stability. The
oyster industry has long suffered
from the political mutation OF enact
ment, amendment and repeal in our
oyster statutes with every succeeding
The Federal Govern
ment has long ago found it necessary
in matters of technical management
to guard its departmental service by
rules that check and safeguard the
public welfare from political grabs.
And our oyster interests, under a
strictly business management, have
now gravitated to strictly business
basis, and promise, if let alone, to
prove a great source of State wealth
and State pride. And so it would
doubtless prove a more serious re-
sponsibility than would first appear
to disturb conditions that are already
satisfactory; and such an experiment
is evidently not seriously contem-
plated just now by the Governor.
The claim of Norfolk to the chair
manship Chat it is great oyster
center,) is almost too puerile to call
for argument. AS a receiving and
point its claim is well
enough; but this claim OF itself has
no more bearing on the merits of the
question than if put forth by Balti
more city. AS to the peculiar inter
ests and respective rights of our oys-
termen in their several needs as ton
gers, dredgers, planters, clammers
and crabbers, and the proper collec-
tions OF the respective revenues from
these sources, Norfolk has too little
part and interest to give her claim
either dignity or force. A glance at
the last report Of the Board will soon
settle this point. Norfolk only pays
to the State an oyster revenue OF
$120 30l Accomac pays $8,l14.Ol
n Northampton $4,2lS 81, an aggregate
from these two Eastern Shore coun-
ties of 1889 SO. The fact is that,
aside from tax on about 80 tong
men, Norfolk pays no tax at all-no
no dredging-tax, no clam
ming or grabbing tax-her local in
terests being mainly limited to her
dealers and shippers, and a nomadlc
class Of shuckers, mostly non-resl-
dents and negroes.
Nor, are the claims of that city
much stronger as the center Of an
oyster section. The same report
shows that Norfolk city, Norfolk Co.,
Portsmouth and Princess Anne, all
pay only the comparative
~ small sum of g., O75 98, or not halt
as much as the little county OF
Northampton What then is the
logic of Norfolk's claim that the
Eastern Shore should yield her the
of the Board, In addi-
IT, 20 +ba l0oo1 Of1oo and oil ita nor