The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-18
Great Industry. The oyster situation Is
critical to this extent, and only to this

extent
/ cannot concur in the conclusion Of
the majority OF your committee, RECON-.
General Assembly providing for the leas;
ing of barren, exhausted and depleted
bottoms. because. as 1 have heretofore
easa II h Is asptd ef Sotom no ia my
Judgment, in the public grounds OF the
Taylor Survey, designating the. natural
rocks, beds and shoals that the State
ine the net revenues now obtained from
ills source, and directly injuring many
thousands OF her citizens.
In my Judgment an! any interference TI,
the future DEVELOPMENT OF the oyster In, IN,
dustry. That survey was made In 1892
at g very great cost to the State Of VIZ
pcrpose OF finally settling question. 50
long a topic of discussion and constant
agitation In the General Assembly The
aW h haet, time se forbade sssh boo sn se e.
frequently assigned by the inspectors tthee
inspectors then being the sole judges OF
THAT vas natural roek to 81 the great ars IN
causing much agitation and litigation:
Finally the General Assembly ordered
that this survey be made In. order to
rap out and define the rocks Of the Com
ters, and also that the citizens OF the
grounds might not be In doubt as 70 the
money. The rRe'' state ls required that these
maps. and charts be recorded N the
CLERKS Office Of the various counties OF
ills Commonwealth Existing conditions
as defined BY said survey. and to break 1t
at this late date will again unsettle the
oyster Industry. and throw away the
necessarily causing the state to again
expcnd an enormous sum OF money as the
result of unstable legislation on the part
CT the peoples representatives.
would therefore earnestly recommend:
l. That tho party or parties to whom
arc entrusted the management Of this
II dustry should be paid a salary SUI
ieieny large to enable nun or tb .he N M, 70
2. That penalties for violations OF these
Pc rticuar statutes be made more severe,
ty providing confinement In the county
jail in place OF the light fines now pre-.
Ecribed.
enacted into laws. and the public assured
1at the 5py hn 5 sS9se vS w hay o. &c
uuired rights Hereunder will be protected
ind required to respect the rights OF
others. many acres OF barren area not
t. the, State no revenues. will be grad,
rally leased and made productive, and
tring into tn- State much revenue not
low derived therefrom: You :, VII th npe1
..venues from this industry. which huve
tenn gradually increasing in the last few
ears under wise legislation, will continue
to increase.
The remedy as see 1t is the safeguard
ing of these rocks. These are the founda-
tons OF Its life and strength; from these
the planter must seek his seed oysters.
TO give these beds 70 private parties .ss
would be an irreparable injury to the
industry. The majority OF the oyster fra
ternity is composed Of the small planter.
holding a few acres Of ground by INVESTED
right or by grant of the state These
ccpend on the natural rocks fo:s planting
seed. II these rocks pass to private
owners. the small planter will find It
almost impossible to obtain the necessary
seed oysters for the planting OF their
grounds, and will consequently be driven
out OF business.
The seed from tho local and natural
beds cost nothing but the labor. expended.
thus the passing OF the natural rocks
Y Ill force the majority Of small planters
cut OF the business. and leave stu
la rger territory uncultivated and unpro-
crctiye.
done the mass of oystermen. and the
injury to the business as whole. Around
the natural rocks center the whole PROB
lem of the oyster industry.
Here Is all the conteneion and and strife RE
and bitterness. So long .sas these. are are
will desire them. and right and justice
will resist the encroachment.
Respectfully submitted,
q a..