Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30

State will be benefited by the renting
I of this barren area.
1 PERTTESTIMONY.
/ II. support Of this argument, publish
a letter from the Hon. George M. Bow
ers, United States Fish Commissioner,
Washington, D. c.:
Washington, D. c., November 20, 1902
Hon. T. c. Jordan. Jordan Springs. va.
Str,-The commission is in receipt !, o. !!
certain phases of the oyster industry OF
| Virginia and Chesapeake bay. generally.
and expresses the following views In 1s-
ply to your specific questions. which are
here repeated:
Question: Kindly inform me il the
present method Of working the pub H.
Answer: The present method of work
ing tho public oyster-beds Of the Che :ss
peake and its tributaries is faulty, owing
mainly to the lax enforcement OF the
laws relating to culling.
Question: % you belieye that lat III the e
and its tributaries will continue to- be
productive, and yield sufficient product
to make the work remunerative TO those
| working the beds under. the present re-
CINE?
Answer: The commission does not be-
lieve that. even with good culling laws
o Of the Chesapeake and its tributaries
some measures are adopted to supply a
parts arr OF the world shows that the pub
lie beds inevitably BECOME exhausted s.;
e1Ifure ander rx priVafe oWnersSp With
natural advantages. much inferior to
States which have adopted the. policy
Of leasing or selling the barren bottoms
have added greatly to the public and pri-
waite income from this source. Rhode
Island, New York. and New Jersey are
examples of States which have adopted
the policy of encouraging oyster culture.
since became partially or practically de-
pletcd yet the production of oysters to-
day is. greater than ever.
;, In the Chesapeake and its tributaries N r
tween 1880 and 1880: the total production
OF oysters from public grounds in tha5
and g per cent IN paue Thes figures
are to be compared with the results In
the Northern States, where. notwith-
standing many adverse conditions, thc
ed an increased production amountng
to 500 to 500 per cent: in each State. The
depletion of the public beds Of the Ches-
apeake has been DELAYED by their extra ;r,.
ordinary extent and productiveness but
that they will eventually share the same
fate as the public beds elsewhere, ap-
pears to be beyond doubt.
Question: What effect would. the rent
ing of barren area in the Baylor survey
of Virginia have on the tongnen ana
others of that section now working the
natural beds?
Answer: It is believed that the rent
ing Of the barren area in the Baylor
survey of Virginia would eventually be
advantageous to the tongmen AS has.
occurred elsewhere. the more enter
prising would undoubtedly take up
ground on their own account If reason
able rental were charged by the STATE.
Others would be employed by the hold.
ers Of private beds. while the remainder
would have less competition on the pub
lie beds The public beds would also be
benefited by the increased production of
spat from oysters. owned by individuals:
AS an example of the results Of leasing
barren bottoms. the case Of : BaT rauz,
bay, New Jersey. may be cited Form
erly natural beds OF excellent oysters
existed in that body Of water but some
years ago they became depleted by over
fishing Planting was then undertaken
by men who were formerly engaged in
longing on the public beds. with the
result that the value of the annual pro
duction is now over $3.50. O00-much greater
than ever beforehand oyster culture
constitutes the main industry OF the
neighboring town of Tuckerton, which
has a population of 1900 persons.
Question:: Which is best for the oyster
tongmen-highly cultivated p / n
grounds or natural beds?
Answer: This question is answered IN
the preceding.
Very respectfully.