The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-19
BOARD OF FISHERIES
ANNUAL REPORT MADE TO THE
GOVERNOR.
A Big Increase In Receipts Many
Recon- nd ations Made.


The sixth annual report of the STATE
Board OF Fisheries, addressed 10 the Gov
ernor. has just been issued The tinan
cial report for the year shows rectlpts
from all sources for the fiscal year brLin
ming October | 1902, and ended OttO
Der /, 1908, were $3.50 II. TOtalex
penditures from oyster aad Board OI
Fisheries funds for fiscal year ended Sep
tember 30, 1903, Sl2, $50 l2;Detreysnut
due the State lOr year ended Septem ber
30, 1903, $40, ,435 O5. This is the 'gesr
revenue ever returned tO the State ON
ts fish and oysters interests in the hl-tO
~ OF the State. The maintenance Of the
four police boats cost I :, sos 80 during
the year, and the salary and expenses oI
the board for the year aggregated 3d.
565. 90.
The board epitomizes the remainder o
the report in n series OF fourteen recon
mendations as follows:
l. That upon proper investigation
any bottom within the Bay lOr survey
found to be entirely barren OF Oyster
rock. or so barren AS to be Improbable
now or hereafter TO the public worker
be leased out under well guarded legi-la
ton.
2. That it be empowered, IN its dis re-
ton, a. 70 the holder of any lease or II
cense, in case Of second violation OF
any Of the oyster laws, 20 cancel or re
woke such lease or license.
g. That as TO parties caught with
boats loaded with the States Oyst n,
illegally taken, the board be empow, red
to take and ellsuch oysters, the proceeds
TO be paid into the State Treasury TO the
credit OF the oyster iuud; and il be allow
ed 10 Ell force the fine against the boat,
as well az against the offender, WHETHER
the boat belong To the fender or not
L. That the dredging season c,m
mence on the let oi November instead OF
the 18th Of October, thus conforming tn
the Mary land law, and that no dredging
license be issued for a shorter period than
for the whole annual dredging season
>. That boats be prohibited from car
~ ing oyster tOngs, dre0ges, OF any de-
vice tor taking oysters, during the closed
season. and be prohibited from carrJ ing
tongs at any time IN excess Of the mum.
her of licensed workers in the boat.
&. Amend the law in regard TO plant
ers and Others buying oysters during the
closed season, 40 az TO punish them for
buying or having in their possession oys-
ters illegally taken from the public rOcs
and allowing the board 70 take and sill
such oysters for the benefit Of the oyster
fund.
:. That the law be amended 80 as to
provide that oyster inspectors and po-
lice boat captains be allowed TO make ar
rests with or without warrants, and
that no inspector be allowed any portion
Of the the hnes for violation ia his dis
trict unless he WAS directly instrumeE tai
in securing the same.
> That a fine, enforceable against the
ohr rnder or the boat. whether owned by
the offender or not, be imposed for illegal
dredging in the Potomac River, instead
of forfeiture OF the boat
9. We recommend that clamming be
prohibited in the waters Of East, North,
Ware. Severn, York, Poquosin and liAck
Rivers during the closed oyster season.
10. We recommend that the low va
ter mark line on the eastern or ocean
side Of the counties OF AccOmac and
Northampton be definitely and clearly
defined
IL. We recommend that the license
tax for taking oysters and clans from
the natural rocks, beds and shoals on the
ocean or eastern side OF Accomae aud
Northampton counties be made TO con
form 20 the license tax for tai ing oysters
under the general law Of the State, and
q strict Gull law AZ to claiming be en-
acted. No clans should be taken from
the public oyster rock on the ocean eide
of AccOmac and Northampton counties
during the closed oyster season.
II. That the Gull law be so amended
a. to give the oyster inspector and po ice
boat captains the right To impose and
collect tines for violations OF the culllaw
13. Where cases arise, or have arisen,
necessitating report to the courts by
the Board OF Inspectors for violations Ol
the fish and oyster laws in the procure
ment and serving OF warrants from the
proper officers, that the costs, when
awarded against the Commonwealth 10
such cases, be provided for aud paid by
the Auditor on proper certificate.
II. Section 2l6l should be so amend
ed as to inquire inspectors to license
dredgers by the season or cargo at fouI
cents a bushel on the capacity Of vesse
or craft. Such capacity to be estimated
by inspectors according to United States
Custom House measurement on all yes
sells or other craft not enrolled in thu
Z. s. Custom House. As the law now
stands only vessels enrolled in the Gus
ton House are meant as under The
"old regime" of dredging, and there Ii
really no provision made for small, oper
-