Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-02-20
Friday, February 90, 1908.
ANENT THE JORDAN BILL.

ANENT THE JORDAN BILL.
The CITIZEN is right ia understan ding
us to advocate the enforcement of the
present law. 1t is not right, however, II
1t infers that we are satisfied that the
present law, even if rigidly enforced,
would sufficiently protect the oyster
properties of the State That Is where
the CITIZEN and TIE Landmark disagree.
From closer examination of the Jordan
measure, 1t seems to US that it would be
wise TO drop its private rental feature
and substitute provision for prohibit
Ing the moleststion OF depleted beds by
anyone until they have had time enough
to be restored by nature-three years, we
believe, is the usual period. With this
important exception, we approve of the
Jordan Bill. The penalties for illegal
oystering are so small that those who
make big catch may often pay the fine
and still be gamers. II would be proper
TO take an oysterman's license away
from him if he should be caught violat-
Ing the oyster law a second or third
nv eAhuN 10 NJ manu-. uGit duu HOW,
to do something drastic; for If the State
waits much longer, there will be nothing
left.
What our good friend of the CITIZEN
does not know about oysters is not worth
Knowing. He must be aware therefore,
that the oystermen are inclined TO carry
their opposition TO corrective legislation
entirely too far. AS to the distinction
between the big "pirate" and the little
pirate" 1t is technically correct, OF
course; but potato does not smell
sweeter when it is called rose-Norfolk
Landmark.
We are flattered by the fact that
the Landmark and the CITIZEN have
never been at great variance on any
public question, and we are delighted
tos see by the foregoing that we are
together on the oyster question, a
matter of widespread disagreement.
1T you take away from the Jordan
measure its private rental feature
and, as the Landmark suggests,
substitute provision for prohibit
ing the molestation of depleted beds
by any one until they have had time
to be restored by nature" you will
extract the fangs of a very venomous
measure which is aimed at the life
Of certain branches of the oyster
business and at the living of thous-
apds of good citizens. This point
finds the very pith of what some few
avaricious people are up to. There
is no concealment In its being the
intention of large majority of those
who are after the depleted" rocks
not to invest dollar in improving
them, but to wait few years, when
they will naturally have recuperated
and presented to their owners luxuri-
ant growths Of oysters.
The horror of adopting the Jordan
method of renting out so-called
depleted rocks is founded upon what
is absolutely believed to be a scheme
in various sections by syndicates of
men who have political and other
pulls with the granting power and
who expect thereby to procure enor-
nous areas of valuable ground.
While it would be to the best in
terests of the oyster people to have
the Landmarks suggestion followed,
and make the close season extend
over certain portions of the depleted
grounds for number of years, we
would 60 ever farther in the way of
a compromise on the Jordan matter.
If these barren rocks are to be rented
out why not limit the requirement
of any one citizen to small area
say two to five acres-giving prefer
ence to owners of lands bordering on
the water In the immediate vicinity
and to resident tongmer who have
small or no holdings? In this way
plans of syndicates will be thwarted
and fayorltism not be quite so rife.
We do not hold with the extreme
views of oystermen, and are there
fore as ready as the Landmark, or
any Others deeply interested, to ac-
knowledge that the oystermen usually
carry their opposition to "correc-
tive legislation" too far. Also that
violations of the law should be
punished and that very rigidly, even
to the taking away of licenses for
second or third violation. If this
be not deterrent we are ready to
join hands in advocating.more drastic
measures.
In IJNCLE SAN will oon dasoood -