The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-23
THE OYSTER BILL.
THE JORDAN MEASURED 1T
PASSED THE HOUSE.

II was Amended and Main Change is
to Have Committee Report to Next
Legislature.
Much interest is manifested in the final
Outcome OF pending oyster legislation.
rhe Jordan bill, which proposes to
break the lines OF the Baylor survey and
To lease out, for planting purposes, bar.
rem and depleted bottom within said sur
yey, has been 40 amended since that
measure was first introduced that the
substitute which passed the House is
widely different from the original bill.
Mr.. Jordan amended the bill to meet
numerous objections raised by its oppo-
nents and finally he amended II still fur.
ther to comply with Constitutional de-
fccts, suggested by the Committee on
Courts Of Justice. Following isa synop.
ais Ol the measure which passed the
House and il now pending In the Senate
After a brief preamble, fetting forth
the reasons for such legislation, section
|, OF the bill, lays down the following
definition OF u natural rock:
Natural oyster beds, r. cks or shoals
in this State are hereby defined and de.
termined To be such ground under tho
waters of this State az produces oysters
naturally in such quantities a. to justify
person or persons in resOrting TO it
regularly for d livelihood"
All bottom within the survey not GOV.
cred by this definition is declared to be
barren aud subject to be leased for plant
ing.
section appoints Messrs + c. Jor-
dan and George \ Illnley on the part
Of the House, and Senat George b.
keezell, on the part of the Senate u spe-
cia Joint committee for the purpose OF
carrying into effect the provisions OF the
act Ii then sets forth that THE said
committee shall examine any public oys-
ter ground which, in their Judgment,
should be examined, after gyiog notice
for at least ten days before the time
fixed for such examination, by hsnd-bills
posted at the front door Of the court
house OF the county in which said ground
lies. and at not less than three other pub
lie places in the vicinity OF said ground,
that upon a day named ia such notice
the said committee will proceed to inyes-
tigste ami examine the said ground as
hereinafter provided, which investigation
and examination may be al Jurned from
time TO time until completed.
After such investigation. said commit
tee is authorized to resuryey and perma-
nently mark the lines Of the natural rocks
and 10 turn out for planting purposes
any barren or depl ted bottom not com
ing within the definition set forth above.
The plots on file in the various clerks Of
hces are to be changed TO conform TO
such resurvey.
Section 3 provides az follows: The
action OF said committee in making such
investigation and examination and in
causing such natural beds, rocks and
shoals to be surveyed, plotted and mark.
ed, and in causing such barren ground to
be surveyed and plotted as Aforesaid,
shall not become iinsl until and unless
such action be ratified and cor ii f-med by
an act OF the General Assembly"
Section l provides for the means and
method OF making the necessary resur
yeys, authorizing the aid Of the United
States Toast and Gsodetir Survey for the
purpose.
Section ) appropriates the sum of $25,-
600, or 80 much thereof as may be neces-
sary to deiray the expenses OF the com
mittee and the costs of surveys, plotting,
etc.
Section q authoriz's the committee to
sit during the vacation of the General
Assembly and directs them to make re-
port Of their action TO the next session
Of the same, giving detailed statement
and description Of such ground as they
shall have examined and surveyed and
an itemized account of the costs and ex-
penses incurred.