Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-29
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
What Other Papers Think on tn.
Subject.
(From Reedpills Era. J


nous Baylor Survey was made, the
enemies of the longing interests of
our State were clamorous to have a
line established all over our State
between the natural rocks, beds and
shoals and the barren or depleted
bottoms that could be utilized as
planting ground. The argument then
used was that it would forever settle
all disputes between tougmen and
planters. Experience has shown
that mistakes were made in this sur
vey, that in many places valuable
oyster rocks were thrown open
to planters. We are glad to see that
in our section, at least, practically
all of the planters stand by the i'm
piled contract and are willing that the
Baylor Survey stand unbroken. We
regret, however, to see that there are
those. led on by greed of gain, who
would violate a contract expressed
or implied and would take from the
toilipg masses Of Underwater their
right to make an honest livelihood
from the natural rocks of our State.
Steadily the latter class have gained
ground and influence. At the last
session of the Legislature the Jordan
Bill brought on one of the hardest
tights ever known in the history of
oyster legislation of our State. The
people won. We wish, however, to
remind them that their victory was
only partial. In all probability a
similar bill, and one even more hos
tile, will be introduced in the Leg
islature, which convenes in Rich
mond today.
Recent experience has shown that
the tongmen cannot reasonably hope
such bill to share the fate of the
Jordan Bill. We therefore urge upon
those interested in the longing,
dredging and trsp-fishing interest
to organize at once and be In a posi-
ton, unitedly, to meet the issues. 1t
is akin to madness, in our Judgment,
to hope absolutely to defeat a bill
containing all the obnoxious features
OF the iniquitous Jordan Bill. It is
therefore best, it seems to MS, for our
people to frame a reasonable bill.
one that will produce more revenue
to the State than under the present
system and one that will make 1t i'm
possible for the few "plsnting ground
grabbers," who hover over the Legis-
latiye Halls, in Richmond, like hun
cry eagles over a purifying carcass,
to secure right to the natural
rocks, beds and shoals of our State. a
bill that will give the rank and file of
our citizens, those who stay at home
and look after their interests there.
an equal show, at least, with the
class We have spoken of above. The
people of this section have always
made a mistake in postponing their
actions until the fight is on. We do
not mean that we are in favor OF
breaking the Baylor Survey, far be
it from rs, but we urge our people to
be in position to solidly oppose any
measure tending to break the Baylor
Survey as long as there is reasona-
BILE hope of success, but when such
a crisis comes then have a substitu te
that can and will be backed by the
longing, dredging and trapping in
terests of the State.
lFrom Norfolk Landmark.)
We have just come across the fol-
lowing reference in the VIRGINIA
CITIZEN, of Irvington, to an editorial
of ours calling for more careful
selection of oyster inspectors and
stricter enforcement of the existing
laws for the protection of the oyster
interest.
almost with one accord the news
papers OF Tidewater that are close TO the
people and informed of their needs concur
with us in urging that something be done
to meet the exacting demands of western
legislators on the oyster subject. We
have reproduced extracts from the Tide
water press IN another column. The
Norfolk Landmark strikes note that is
fair and just to all, but the hill-country
folk demand more, and the press agrees
that some concessions must come from
u.s. Legislators that stood by us and
against the Jordan bill have served
notice on us that they will not do so
again-or, rather, that they will join us
In Offering moderate concessions, but if
we persist in suggesting none that they
will be Obliged to join with the members
from their section and act Independently
oil i1dewater. We have been berated by
some shallow-minded oyster people for
DARING A IL.
is OF little consequence. The oyster peo-
pie OF reasonable Judgment know that
such suggestions as ours come from un-
ialtering friends. We have but one fear
the rabid, unreasonable man is going
TO put barrier in the way of getting
easy terms, and while he PROCESSES fealty
TO the oyster rocks he is one of it's worst
enemies, because OF his observation-disclosures
All enterprises have some unreasonable
adherents, and it is these people that III,
vide house against itself. II the CITIZEN
One OF the first to see the situation and
point it out to our people--if the CITIZEN
is to be berated by these cranks, then all
the newspapers heretofore friendly to the
oyter interests are in the same category.
The know-it-all fellow cuts himself eloof
from his companions and the friendship
oil all the papers that have stood by the
oyster interests. Whether he or they are
in the worse perdicament is a Question
easily answered"
The Landmark, in advocating
stricter enforcement of the existing
oyster laws, did not mean that it has
altered its previous)y-expressed con-
viction that something must be done
about the oyster situation by the
friends of the oyster interest to pre-
vent something much more radical
from being done by the enemies of
the Oyster interest. We believe,
however, that the path gsy to 9 solu.
tion of the question is to be fonnd
by our suggestion. The improve
ment in conditions will be so great |
if the present laws are enforced By |
the inspectors, and reinforced where |
necessary by the Legislature, that
there will be far less practical argu-