Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-05
TO PROTECT OYSTER BEDS.
Expected That Much Good Will Re
suit From Commissions Work.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star,
PORTSMOUTH. Va, April 4, 1904.
State Senator William w. Sale. member
of the joint commission appointed by the
legislatures of the states of Maryland and
Virginia to devise ways and means of har-
monizing the police jurisdiction of the two
states over the oyster beds of the Potomac
river. declares that he believes that the
work that was accomplished by the commits
sion on its trip to Annapolis from which 1t
has just returned. will be of the greatest
benefit to this state.
He lays especial stress upon the establish
ment of Gull line In the Potomac from
Cobb's Point, on the Maryland shore, to Co.
lonial Beach on the Virginia side.
He says that the culling laws of the two
states. so far they apply to the Potomac
river, have been made to conform. and that
hereafter the Virginia oysterman may take
in that river oysters only two and one-half
inches long, whereas the old law was that
the oyster should have attained growth
of at least three inches.
The Virginia planters will also be bene-
fted r Sale says, by the fact that the
season for taking oysters for planting has
been extended until the 18th of June of each
year. The oyster season in the Potomac
has been curtaIied by Virginia by fifteen
days 1t will hereafter begin on the 1st of
October, instead of the 18th of September,
as heretofore.
The laws referred to in the sena tors in
terview will be passed by the Maryland
legislature with the understanding that they
do not become effective until the Virginia
legislature has taken concurrent action
After the passing of the laws the Mary
land police boats may pursue violators of
the oyster laws into Virginia waters and
the Virginia oyster cruisers may chase the
Maryland pirates home, the provso being
in each instance that the offender shall be
tried before the magistrate of the jurisdic-
ton in which the capture is effected
This measure removes all fear of conflict
between the oyster navies of the two states
in the Potomac river and will expedite the
administration of justice so far it applies
to the protection of the oyster beds.
Senator Sale thinks that the fact that the
painters may take the baby oysters without
hindrance from the Potomac north of the
Gull line established by the commission will
prove to be of the greatest benefit to Vir-
ginia. We are planting at present, he says,
whereas the Marylanders are not.
The matters which have been settled be-
tween the two states have long been up for
consideration, and they have caused an end
less amount of trouble and annoyance. 1t
is Senator Sales idea that the work of the
commission has removed all cause of fric-
ton between the two commemorative.
The feature of confiscating the cargo of
the oyster pirates when they are caught. the
senator believes, will do more than almost
a. thing else toward protecting the oyster
industry.
Heretofore the fine has been regarded by
the poachers as the compulsory payment of
a license. This will be quite different, how
ever. If they lose their Illegal cargo.
The conference at Annapolis was the
l..ird of the kind since the committees were
appointed by the legislatures of the two
states. The work that they have accom-
pnshed is very great. and oystermen believe
that it will make for the betterment of the
inuustry.
1t is pointed out that the expenses of the
trip to Annapolis were paid by the members
of the commission themselves, and that the
ST te was Gale. upon to make no appro-
priation for tbs purpose.