Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-11-24
FISH AND OYSTERS.

Maryland is soon to be shaken O,
the oyster question. Gen. Seth; on
OF sthe State Senators compliment
Virgiuia's oyster laws and advises
survey for Maryland rocks similar {,
the Baylor survey In this State
Gen. Seth thinks that the. Virgini,
law offers a safe guide to Legislative,
action in Maryland, as the genera
conditions in the two States are yer,
similar. Although simple in III
provisions, the Virginia law, he says
has been effective in eucouragins
oyster planting and in promoting tn.
welfare OF the oyster industry. o. ~ =
The fshermen along the Potomac
Ia King George county have beer
thrown into q state of excitement
and confusion by 9 notice. or warn
ing. from Maryland. that the water
along the King George shore does
not belong to Virginia. II seems
that under therecent survey of the
Potomac river Msrylsnd claims the
water and fishing grounds just of
the King George shores. Some DAYS
ago Maryland lawyer came over
and Informed the King George fish,
elmen that their snets are in Mary-
land water, and that they are fishing
in violation of law. -,
z sdoYsTERMEN ADMIT GUILT.
Here is a statement from the Bal
timore Herald which sums up the
oyster troubles in Maryland: "The
reckless construction of the law by
the magistrates in many sections ia
aiding inithe destruction of the oys-
ter industry. aa The boatmen and
dredgers are deliberately disregard.
ing the restrictions concerning size
Of oysters allowed to be taken from
the beds, and when cargo has been
gathered these men present them
selves before rural justices of the
peace aud Of their own yolitiou adj
nit guilt and pay a fine of S25 pre-
'cribed. This provision of the Law
having been met, che cargo contain
ng large percentage of .unmerch,
antable stock is brought to the, mar.
Het In this city or taken to the Vir.
ginia oyster planting grounds and
'old. The oysterman generally OBJ
'alns q good profit on, his stock and
IAN well afford to pay the fine. If
ms scheme is tolerated the destruc.
-lon OF the Chesapeake bay Industry
9 sure, and that within a yery short
.lme." This is the statement made to-
lay OF a man closely Identified with
The oyster interests of the state.
Mr.. b. Howard Haman, author of
he Haman bill, a measure that he
declares will eradicate virtually All |
he ills that the Chesapeake bay bil
'alve 10 heir to, and as we'll bring a.
bout the rehabilitation of the oyster |
grounds, said today that the greater
,ottion OF the oysters received at
his port two years ago was IN.
or under the size pre-
cribed by law. MIR. Hamsn said |
hat from what he eau understand
ne evil has fullswsy this year. I
The trouble is, said Mr.. Haman
ne Gull law is unenforcible. BOIL
vans fleet of war vessels, if scatter.
q along the shores of the Chesa-
cake bay oyster grounds, could NOT
aiiy carry out the provisions of the
Nv. it" hi." ,slu3v5 l0 frs77u9
Many oyster packers agree that
Oh the part Of county iustiy
IS is causing much harm to the oy-
er bottoms. Uutil the violators of
le law are given to understand
TAT it is neither profitable nor plea .
ut TO violate the oyster laws, they
y. raatters must 60 from bad to I
1fee. ~ ae'aF sauiIi raDh hne In
"The present Gull Law il ali ,