The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-17

of tho oyster tongers with shifting their
position like the breezes that blew over
the shores OF the Chesa pcnke. He rallied
Delega to Mathews. OF Accomac, the cham
pion OF the oyster in the House with
having introduced a bill In the House,
urging It as necessary to the salvation
of the oyster Industry, and securing ITS
enactment. Six months later the same
gentleman was urging the repeal OF IN e
law, and did secure Its repeal. Speaking
OF Hon. ]. n. Stubs. Of Gloucester. NJ
Watkins referred to his record for years
as champion, and authority on shell
fish and characterized him as the Bob
Ingersol Of tho oyster interests. AIR.
stubbs was present and was an attentive
listener.
The speaker then went into some detail
as to his observations. and the in1or-
nation CLEANED by him during the cruise
Of the Joint committee ~ the oyster
waters OF the STATE He quoted the state
ments OF men prominent In the oyster In
dustry, county surveyor expressing tn"
belief that there were about 1000 acres OF
natural rock within the survey on the
eastern or ocean side OF Accomac, while
a prominent tonEer expressed the bellel
that there were probably 3,o9O acres 81 OF
productive natural rock within the $3.50
statements OF the oyster people the
speaker mathematically reached the con-
cluYion that there were at least 50'uoo
acres OF barren or depleted rock within
the survey on tho eastern or ocean side
Of Accomac. s35it5s
LAwLEss AS TO OYSTERS.
NarratIng his experiences whom the
Joint committee visited Mathews county.
the speaker referred to 1t as the wise
county Of Tidewater, the county where
lawlessness prevailed. but only to the en-
tent OF disregard of the oyster laws.
Otherwise the people Of Mathews We're
the most law-abidlng. the most charming
and the most hosptable people ne had
ever KIN own, and he Included the tongets
In this classified Ion. From what he had
heard of the open violation OF the oyster
laws he rather expected to be met by
an armed posse ut the shore, On the con-
trary. he was never more Hospitality and
cordially received and entertained Re-
ferring to his antlcipa ted feast on the IA
nous AIobjack Bay oysters, the speaker
depicted his disappointment when the el-
Tort OF the tongers to get oysters on these
famous rocks resulted In nary an
oyster" From this exerience he deduced
the conclusion that there was barren or
depleted rock, even In the most famous
areas embraced In the survey.
After describing the conditions existing
In various sounds and rivers as ascer-
tanned by the Joint committee and the
care taken to get information from bona
fde tongmen. rather than from planters:
MIR. watkins argued on the basis OF
conditions as noted there that the oyster
Industry was declining. and that rocks
and bottoms. which O year or two ago
PRODUCED an abundance of oysters, were
found to be barren and worthless for oys'
Ter taking. These and other specific DIS
eoveries and the statements Of tongers
themselves were relied on to show that
liz oyster interests OF the State We're N
need OF development, such as that pro.
posed in the bill pending The Supply
Of seed oysters, upon which all planters
depended, was decreasing year by year
ana the very life Of the great oyster m.
durtry was threatened by continuance
Of existing conditions without the appll-
cation Of some prompt and efflcaclous
remedy 1,oup.
The sneaker then went into an ana!y-
sle Of the bill itself, declaring that the