The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-22
LEGISLATURES AND THE OYSTER
INDUSTRY.

LkGlSLA1thE AND The O1Sl En-
INDUSTRY.
The bill introduced in the House OF
Delegates Of Virginia during the lat
ser part OF the present session OF the
Legislature, known as the Jordan
bill, which has passed the House
and was defeated 10 the Sen
ate, is a matter OF great in
terest and Importance TO the people
OF the State. As the law now stands,
the natural oyster rocks or beds,
and all beds where oysters are to be
found in the Chesapeake Bay and it's
tributaries, in the jurisdiction OF Vir-
ginia, within what is known as the
Baylor survey, are subject to the
common right OF fishery for oysters
TO all citizens OF the commonwealth
who may engage in longing for
oysters.
The Jordan bill proposed to break
this survey and lease or rent to oys-
ter-planters all WORKOUT and depict
ed beds, but to have the natural
beds still subject TO the common
rights of fishery for oysters by the
public. Il may be we'll TO explain
that natural bed has been defined
TO be Zone not made by man, but
one of sufficient producsiveness 80 be
valuable for the public to resort to
as q means of livelihood" There are
other beds made by man with oyster
shells or other hard substances to
which the young oysters can cling
and grow, as oysters cannot live or
thrive on a soft bottom; and it is
this latter class OF beds and the worn
out and depleted natural beds that
the Jordan bill proposes to rent to
the planters.
The people OF Tidewater Virginia
are opposed the passage OF tide bill,
practically as unit. They claimed
nat it is the outcome OF an effort on
!, ne part OF the planters, who will be
-porste bodies organized outside
.gipia,, to build up and create
ter monopoly, and that their
to lease also the natural
hich will result in depriving
1ds OF toDgmen OF the means
hood which they hsyepursued
5<s. They also claimed that the
"a OF the bill would impose I'M
AL b;rdens OF taxation on the
water people as compared with
1.-the other hand, it was claimed by
2;es OF the bill that the Baylor
was never intended originally |
inclGde anything but the natural
.ocks, whereas, on account OF blum
der OF she commissioners who had
control OF the survey, only little
ever one per cent. OF the beds includ- 4
ed In the survey are natural rocks,
the balance being barren or WORKOUT
beds, which by artificial means and
planting-but for the operation OF
the survey-could be converted into
profitable beds, yielding large reve-
nue. for the State. In addition TO the
revenue which, it is claimed, the State
would realize by leasing these beds,
IL Is charged that if something is not
done to replenish depleted beds and
build new ones, the oyster supply
will in time be exhausted.
1t hardly seems reasonable
that the people from that section OF
the State, where the oyster industry
prevails and who are more intimate
ly acquainted with the business than
people from any other section could
possibly be, should be so violently
opposed to the passage OF the bill,
unless there was some reason and
justice in their demands.
1t Is said the fight will come up
again when the new Legislature
meets in January.
The people from other sections
should not impose unequal burdens
or Objectionable legislation upon the
Tidewater section, simply because
they are numerically capable OF do
Ing so.