The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-04-18

ESSEX
Baylor Survey and the Oyster ROcb-Laree
Acreage Sold TO Different Parties FOR Small
Revenue 10 State.

huntsville, Va. April l., 1905.
To The Free Lance:
lunr correspondents ia an interview
with the Ware hI0therS Oi Wars wharf,
learned some startling facts about the
effect OF the Baylor Survey oi oyster
rocks in this portion Oi the Rappahan-
mock. Rust Rock 1.-THE highest rock rN-
cept CartcrS Rock and which amounts
to but littlrl cuycrs not less than -
acn'~ oi river bottom. and had it been
properly surveyed the - arps should
have been reported ~ the natural bed Of
that rock. just how much was reported
a. the natural bed do not know. but oi
what was not reported at all. or report
cl depleted rock. - nrr'S of il was
rented AT : an arr' 10y one person in
Richmond county. and 10y him lra>ed 10
K. h. Pratt. of that county Yesterday
Mr. Pratt offered 10 sell uut hl~ interest
in the rock llc hui. drdgcd it, am iu-
mrInrd. Mlil there j. practically nothing
rli of the natural growth. II may p'-
cover ii hft alone for years. hut an pies
cnl is good for bedding ground alone
Now. what j. thr result of this For
$50 % year one person has exclusive
rights and privileges To - acn.s ot nat
uml oyster rock ui The finest hayopd
oyster that can be- found in the liycr.nud
>con- of lungnnH arr utterly deprived
al ~ u-r privilege Il timc-houonrd right
gWntrd them ever since the establish
mcul of this Commonwealth aud even to
the earliest settlement.
A.tttt..- mt w.
wharf. cOyriS not lr~~ than lOacr.-. and
less than one acre was turned into
natural rock 10y the Baylor Survey. 80
30 acres of natural gQ"k there may be-
tnPrD Gp lV uur individual and every
tougmlu and every family. rich or poor
drbarnd from th privilege Of taking one
oyster from it and all iur 39nyrnm to
the State The lrWi~ lanhiprd Parkiug
Company have under their control - to
100 acrr~ ui the natural rock of Moratico
Bar oyster beds near Wheaton wharf
These he,l- an' noted. aud to have the
exclusive right to such II piece OF river
bottom j, % small gold mine nll their
own.
The Same conditions exists. am in
formed. all alone the river. and "a lew are
greatly benefited and ~onr OF thrm max
ing small fortunes. while th' poor tong
uru and the riparian Owners are cut ont
0f privilege which might well be- ,alird
Cod given. aud thr State is receiving u
most paltry Sum in return for it's Great
ing. what seems to me-. a most most per.
nlrious monopoly.
\ DECREASE ln oyster ground DECREASES
the uumh'r qi ioensed oyster boatS and
thr,o j. nu question about the State los
ing in tine oyster ryruue, eaving0ut the
hardship thi- condition brings upon the
individual cilizrn. When that survey
was made ihrr, should have been not
only expert engineers. but there should
have accompanied them experienced oys-
termen living near the rocks. those who
10y long cNperioncc knew the limits. ~ it
j. tlrr was a hotch OF the whole bust
hess ior il il a fact, evident and cOnclu-
Sivr. that some al the very best portions
of the rock- were lcft out. There should
b. a remedy ior all this. The people are
stirred up aud talking. and when the
people become aroused against an njus-
ticr duur them something iS generally
4.