Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-02-13

the Southside Sentinel, of Urbanna,
adds this Endorsement:
Our contemporaries conclusion is
shared extensively, we think, and the
Sentinel can but feel that the interests of
all classes oystermen and farmers -
would be promoted by taking off both
September and April. However, we OBJ
serve from the action of those who have
recently assembled in mass-meeting at
several places in Middlesex to consider
questions pertaining to the oyster indus
try, that there is very considerable op-
position to the taking off of September,
only upon the ground, so far as we can
gather, that the weather during that
month is the most favorable of the
year for clustering. We do not profess to
have much practical knowledge of the
oyster industry, but from what we have
seen and heard OF it in recent years we
are forced to agree with the CITIZEN
that to take off September and April
both from the oyster season would help
that industry and greatly promote our
agricultural interests"
No step taken in oyster matters
would find unanimous endorsement,
and it is not to be supposed that any
so important one as shortening the
season would be free of criticism.
We are firmly convinced, however,
that the opposition to it is not a
majority sentiment. Equally true
and very fortunate-no particular
class as a unit opposes or favors the
proposition. Tongmen aud planters
are to be found on both sides. But
we are just as firmly convinced that
no move could be made that would
rebound to SO much good to oyster
interests as the taking off September
and April would.
There seems to be little objection
to dropping April, the main objection
being to leaving off September. 1t is
in this latter month that the oyster
suffers most, and oystermen do not
oegin to derive a benefit anything
like equal to the damage done. The
young oyster has hardly set before
ne is grappled with, and his thin,
papery shell roughly detached from
the parent shell or other object. A
large percentage of them are thus
destroyed.
Again, the price of oysters is sway
down" during September and the
oysters then taken would be larger
and bring better price If left for
the October catch.
a most important reason, though.
why September should be excluded
is that the larger part of the tong
men, particularly early in the season,
is composed of negroes that have
flocked to the shores from the inte-
rior- After the middle of August it
is practical impossibility for farm
ers TO procure this class of labor-and
at its most important season. So
two-fold injury is done the material
interests of our Tidewater country
by an early opening of the oyster
season-the oyster is more materially
damaged in the early fall than at
any other time, and the farming in
terests are fearfully handicapped.
In fact, our agricultural industry
has almost become a nonentity,
hardly more than name.
We are fully aware that IN ad-
vancing such views we tread upon
the toes of some planters who RELY
upon the cheap market of September
to lay in their winter stock, and up
on the corns of some tongmen who
work only for what is in sight, little
caring what betides the future. But
q calm, dispassionate view of the
situation, from a vantage ground
that we hold-being in the hot
OF both longing and planting indus
tries-incites US to beg the Legisla-
ture to eliminate both September
and April from the longing season.
1t might be we'll for That BODY to
bear in mind that it is but a reason
able supposition that the gentlemen
who appear before it in opposition to
cutting off September are spurred
on by personal interests, as recited
above, and that the men who are not
directly engaged in the business. but
who may have good command of
the situation and view it to the Joint
benefit of both our land and water ,
interests, with no axe to grind, are in
better position to judge of the "weal"
and the "woe." There is hardly {
sufficient incentive for these latter I
10 appear, at expense, before our :
legislative committees. q
We reiterate that no step taken by Z
he Legislature could result in more !.
rood to the oyster industry-to say Ii
Nothing of the agricultnral--than 81
would be that of cutting off Septem- 3