Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.

Oyster Inspector Wainwright in forms
your correspondent that the large area
Of oyster bottoms recently assigned to J.
/ ;. Darling, OF Hampton, after being sur
| veyed and calculated, amounted to LIE
| acres. In the contest between the clam
| mers Of Crab Neck and E. e. Straight &
| Co, the ground has been assigned to the
clammers to be used as a public claiming
( ground by all the tongnen Of this vicln-
ity. These workingmen claim that this
stretch Of bottom is absolutely necessary
| to them In making q living during the
| summer months, the close season of the
! oyster, when the law declares it crime
| to. lift that bivalve from it's natural bed.
| The oyster shucking house Of r, 2.
! Roberts Co., at Gloucester Point. is
! doing rushing business just at present.
They have twenty colored oy Ter shuckers
at work. and are shipping 200 gallons by
each night boat to Baltimore. This en-
terprise. while somewhat OF a pioneer
in its line is a big success and augurs well
for larger industries of the same sort.
A friend Of the Dispatch has brought
to the attention Of your correspondent the
volume Of complaint that IS being evoked
by the manner in which the public ferry
plying between Gloucester Point and
Yorktown, is run. The needs of the trav-
cling public are not catered to at all. A
leisurely schedule is maintained and it is
obnoxious to its patrons and exceedingly
agreeable to those who are compelled
to use It. This ferry is chartered in
stitution Of the State, and there are hints
of a plan to ask the Legislature TO i'm
vestigate the matter, unless there Is a
marked change in the conduct of the BUSH
ness The commercial travellers. proven
bal hustlers, ara the principal complain
ants.
CHARLES GALLAGHER HoNoRED.
Mr.. Charles Gallagher. one Of the oldest
inhabitants Of this vicinity, was treated
to unique experience last Thursday eve-
ming, the Sth instant. His many frienda
arranged for him very pleasant surprise
at Gloucester Point Hotel, the occasion
being the 8ard anniversary of his birth,
as he was born January g. 1920. a fine
spread was arranged for the old gentle-
man. with all the delicate kinds of sea-
food In abundance. The feast was much
enjoyed and toasts to his health were
drunk quite heartily.
The winter season thus far has been
exceedingly mild and pleasant While
all around and about ns there mas been
snow in abundance, but few flakes OF.
"the beautiful have appeared here.
Ycrk's proximity to heavy bodies or salt
water is it's safeguard against violent.
falls in the mercury.
INSANITY AMONG NEGROES.
TO observant people the increased num-
Der Of mental diseases and brain troubles
among the colored folks of the day. is
very noticeable. Cases of lunacy seem to
Increase yea rly, and more frequently than
not the insane negroes are very violent.
Seventy-tlve per cent. at least, Of all the
negroes afflicted in this region are color
ed. The reason is not easily answered
Surely the trouble does not come rom
brain fag. for In nearly every individual
case, the patient has been used to plenty
Of physical exercise in the open air, and
to following pursuits that hardly taxed
the functions Of the brain at all. The
worst features Of this condition is that
the colored insane seldom, il ever. recov-s
er the use CT their mental powers,
Hon. Sidney Smith. It IS learned. VIII.
move his family here from Williamsburg
in the early spring and make this his
future residence.
Mr.. s., F. Matthews. lately employed
with Wv. Rogers & Son. is on a trip
to his old home at Surry. Va,