The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-14
CAPTURE BY
THE ACCOMAC
oyster Steamer Brings Three
Prizes into Port.
IMPORTANCE TO NORFOLK
Combination Of the Rock Island and
Seaboard Will Make a Great Allan
tic Deep Water Terminus on
the Elizabeth River.
Especial to The Times.Dispatcho

Especial to The mes-Dispatch.)
NORFOLK, VA, August 13-The Vir-
eina oyster cruiser Accomac captured
this morning three canoes whose occu-
pants. eight men. white and colored, were
taking oysters from the beds in the South
ern Branch.
1t had been reported to the State author
tiles that In the absence OF a constant
patrol the beds In the Southern Branch
were suffering at the hands of the oys-
ter pirates, and the Accomac was. there
fore. sent down there to punish them.
1t Is the first time capture has been
made by the oyster navy In these waters
for long time, and the Accomac excited
much attention as she towed her trophies
-"prze ships as her crew proudly called
them-past the wharves.
The poachers will be given a hearing In
the Norfolk courts. The State authorities
are very much in earnest in their efforts
to protect the oyster Snds during the sum-
nier months. They state hat there will
be no oysters In short while IL the mat
ter is not taken care OF more diligently
and the catching Of oysters out of season
Is not stopped.
It appears to be almost hopeless task
to enforce the culling laws during the
season also. The baby oyster is brought
into port before he has time to grow,
ard this practice means the destruction
of the beds within q few years
DESTROYING THE FISH.
Great complaint is also made by the
fishermen OF the depredations Of the big
fishing boats owned by the guano facto-
lies hereabouts. 1t is stated that these
toats with their patent apparatus are
driving all the fish out of the lower Ches-
apeake.
The owners OF tho fisheries along the
coast where only edible fish are taken
take the very best fish In these waters
for the fertilizer factories. where good
and bad alike are ground up into fish
fertilizer.
sportsmen have also noticed the fact
that the fishing in the bay is not as good
as 1t used to be. and the prospect Is that
some action will be asked Of the Board
OF the Chesapeake and its Tributaries. or
even OF the Legislature Itself
GREAT ATLANTIC TERMINUS.
The increased importance of this port
as result OF the Seaboard Air Line deal
with the Rock Island appears to have
outweghed all other considerations In
the estimation Of the officials OF the line
who were seen by lmcs-Dispatch repre-
sentatives to-day.
There appears to be no fear on their
part that the system will be merged with
another, with a resulting change OF man
agement, as result Of the deal. 1t mere
~ looks like a tremendous increase In the
Importance of the system and making this
port the Atlantic deep-water terminus OF
a great trans-cont!nental railway COM
pany.
Judge Leigh r. Watts, general counsel
of the Seaboard, stated In brief inter-
view to-day that the deal will immensely
increase the strength of the Seaboard,
financially and otherwise. 1t Will mean
rapid, an almost unprecedented increase
liz the business of this port and OF all
sections tributary to the Seaboard Air
Line. The fact that the port will be the
Atlantic deep-water terminal OF such
system as will be linked up between ut
and the Rock Island Is Of tremendous
local importance, the Judge thinks Re
garding any possible change OF manage
nlent he would not speak.
First Vice-President and General Man
ager James NJ. Barr Is away from the
city on an inspection tour OF the road
SALE AND NOT AN ALLIANCE.
The announcement OF the successful
contamination of the deal did not occa-
sion so much surprise among railway men
as might have been expected. There are
those among them who see IN 1t the pre-
cursor OF important and far-reachlng
changes In the railway world at large.
and there are others who belleIs that
there will be no other result th#n that
the Rock Island and Its connections will
be enabled to reach the Atlantic Ocean,
and will by their deal with the Seaboard
become a trans-continental line. instead
of one wholly inland.
with the Gould lines and the bay con-
nectiops of the Seaboard, Baltimore VIII
become a terminus OF two transLcontinen-
tai systems. having one physically at her
doors, while this city will have the rails
OF the other. Private advlces from New
York to-day state that the "seaboard has
passed to the Rock Island" This would
indicate a purchase, instead Of a working
agreement.