Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-02
FISH and OYSTER NOTES

sSss futU WILL LIN NVILy
Pursuing machines have been in use for
several years at the north, and, having
given satisfaction, have been adopted
by nearly every vessel in the mackerel
seining fleet. Previous to their intro
duction the work of "pursing up" occu-
pied from 80 to 40 minutes and required
the united efforts of the Is men in the
boats crew. With one of these machines
six men now can do the work in less
than half that time and much more
easily. The machine consists of set
of cogwheels fixed to shaft and geared
so as to admit of considerable speed,
and at the same time powerful enough
to Withstand heavy strain. To each
end of the shaft is attached a crank,
the handle Of which is long enough to
permit three men to work abreast.
When the seine has been set around q
school of fish the ends are brought to-
gether in the usual manner, the purse
davit shipped, the purse line rove through
the snatch blocks fore and aft, and the
seine is pursed by hand until there is a
perceptible strain on both parts of the
purse line, which are then led to the
machine and placed around the drum, a
man being stationed on the port side of
the boat to coil the line as it is hove in
and also to slack away if necessary.
The men working the machine are re-
lieved at intervals of few minutes,
and by the time two or three shifts
have been made the seine is pursed. :.
POTOMAC CLOSE SEASON OFF
There is apparently wide difference
of opinion between the Virginia and
Maryland conferees on the joint oyster
commission, as to what was actually
done with reference to bringing about
uniformity of laws between the two
States. Some of the Marylanders are
seemingly Of opinion that the body de-
cided to close dredging in the Potomac
river for period of two years, but the
Virginians do not take this view as a
body. While they are divided, the
division is even, and four of them claim
that the proposition, in accordance with
all parliamentary practice, was lost on
the tie vote which was had. They will
therefore make no report on this ques-
ton to the Virginia Legislature.
Delegates George Mason and Rev and
Senators Walker and Gunter are not in
favor of closing the Potomac while the
other four Virginians, ]. L. Taliaferro,
Green, Thornhill and Dickson, voted in
the affirmative, and claim the river
ought to be closed by action taken.
The joint committees unanimously
agreed to take section of the Virginia
law prohibiting the having of small oys-
ters on board any boat. The penalty
for so having, if it be dredge boat, is
fine Of not less than 500 nor more
than $3.50 and Imprisonment in Jail of
the captain or the person in charge of
the boat for period not less than thirty
days or more than six months. The
cargo Of any vessel caught violating the
law is to be forfeited, and such cargo is
to be returned to the bottom of the
river under the supervision Of the officer
experimenting the violator. The penalty
to be imposed upon tongers is not less
than $50 and not more than SIPS, with
jail sentence for the captain from fifteen
days to three months and confiscation
of cargo. MS Linthicum will
recommend land Legislature
that bills empOuyIng these points be
at once and submitted to the
General Assembly. Chairman Green, of
the Virginia committee, will make
similar report to the Legislature Of this
State.
Suspecting that the Virginia Assem-
bly, would not agree to the proposition
that the Potomac river be closed for
two years, Maryland proposes coup to
force her sister State to accept its terms.
Senator Brewington presented a bill
providing that Chesapeake bay be
closed to dredgers. To close the Chesa-
peake would mean the driving of all
host of dredgers to the Poto-
mac, and, under such assault on the
oyster beds there the bottom would be
barred in remarkably short time, and the
would be ruined. 1t is the
belief of Maryland legislators that rather
than that this should come to pass,
Virginia will close the Potomac.