The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-17
As to Oyster Laws.

No step taken In oyster matters would
find unanimous endorsement, ard 1t is
not to be supposed that any SO important
one as shortening the season would 10
free OF criticism. We are firmly convinc-
cd. however. that the opposition to It is
not majority sentiment. Equally true
and very fortunate-no particular class
as n unit opposes or favors the PROPOSE
ton. Tong1nen and planters are to be
found on both sides. But we are just as
firmly convinced that no move could Ee
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 begin to derive
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 per-
cenage of them are thus destroyed.
Again, the price OF oysters Is way
down during September and the oysters
then taken would be larger and bring
a better price II left for the October
catch.
A most important reason. though why
September should be excluded Is that
tho larger part OF the tongmen. partlcu-
larly carly In the season, Is composed OF
negroes that have flocked to the shores
from the interior. After the middle OF
August it Is a practical impossibillty Tor
farmers to procure this class OF labor
and Mt its most important season. So
two.foTd injury Is done the mn terial In
terests OF our Tidewater country BY an
early opening OF the oyster season-th&
oyster is more materially damaged In
tho early fall than at any o.ner time. and
tho farming interests arc fearfully handi'
capped. In fact, our agricultural indus.
try has almost become nonentity. hard,
~ more than name.
q We are fully aware that in advancing
such views we tread upon the toes OF
some planters who rely upon the cheaI
market of September TO lay In their win.
ter stock, and upon the corns of som.
tongmen who work only for what Is In
sight, little caring what betdcs the fu.
turc. But calm. dspassionate view OF
the situation from a vantage ground that
wo hold-being in the hotlbed Of both
longing and planting ndustrles-incltea
us to beg the Legislature to eliminate
both September and April from tho tong.
ing season. 1t might be well for that
body to bear In mind that It is but
reasonable supposlton lat tho gentle-
mon who appear before it In opposition
to cutting off September are spurred on
by personal interests. as reclted above,
and that tho men who are not directly
engaged In the business, but who may
have q good command Of tho situation
and View 1t to the Joint benefit of both
our land and water interests, with no
axe to grind, are In bcttor position to
judge the "wea' and tho woe" Theirs
is hardly sufficient incentive for these
latter to appear. at expense. before our
legislative committees.
We reiterate that no step taken by tbs
a rclo t,,,a at,,,lt IN
to tho oyster industry-to say nothing Of
the ugrlcultural--than would be that OF
cutting OF September from the oyster
season,--The Irylngton Citizen,