Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-12-21
STIFF FISHT FOR FISH
And OYSTER GROUNDS.
Board Of Fisheries to Decide
TO-DAY.

Culled from the Norfolk papers, we
givea synopsis of the important matters
before the State Board of Fisheries. in
session Thursday and Friday of last
week at Norfolk. Cleveland Maynard
was elected to succeed the late ]. w.
Wainwright as oyster inspector in York
county. There were three other candi-
dates for the position. The board also
appointed several special police.
A number of petitions were filed
with the Board, asking for from 500
to 5000 acres of ground in the Chesa-
peake bay for deep-water oyster plant
ing. 1t was announced that the petit
TONERS and their counselwould be heard
by members of the Board this friday
morning at 10 o'clock.
Captain Hudgins, of the Rappahan-
mock, one of the smaller boats of the
feet now in this harbor, reported $5O5
in fines recently collected on the Poto-
mac river, and about as much more
through the several inspectors on that
river.
That there is to be big fight for the
deep water oyster, fish and crab privi-
leges, to be let by the State Board of
Fisheries, was evidenced yesterday (Fri-
day. when the half dozen applicants APP
peared before the board, through their
attorneys, at 10 o'clock, and urged their
various claims. For five hours the
Board was again in session at the At
lantic hotel. After consultation, the
chairman announced that the hearing
would be resumed next Friday, at 10
o'clock, at the Atlantic hotel, this city.
On that morning the Board and the ap-
plicants will go down to the grounds to
be leased and look them over. After
returning to the city there will be a
night session for the final arguments.
Chairman Lee said yesterday that he
thought it very probable it would be
next Saturday before the Board an
nounced to whom would be rented
grounds asked for, if rented at all.
The leading petitioners are d. Stor-
mont & Co. and Jno. ". Buchanan &
Son, with other big fishers and oyster
planters. They were represented before
the Board by Judge j. M. Keeling,
Captain w. w. Old and Mr.. J. Edward
Cole, as counsel.
1t was thought at first that the mat
ter could be decided at this meeting,
but several problems presented them
selves and the Board is rather chary of
acting until they are in the full posses
| N fot, % -
and that all interests may be given an
opportunity to be heard. One of the
knottiest of these is the dispute between
the fishermen and the oystermen. 1t is
claimed that unless permission is granted
very carefully the oystermen will also
have the right to fish over the grounds,
thus interfering with those who possess
that privilege already; while on the
other hand, the fishermen might have
authority to take oysters from the
grounds over which they have fishing
rights. This complication decided the
Board to work warily on the matter,
and they will render no decision until
they have thoroughly satisfied them
selves concerning the true status of the
affair. Petitions of this kind have been
hanging fire before the State Board for
number of years, and it is the desire
of this Board to dispose of them finally
Upon the decision that will be rendered
hang many other similar applications
The outcome of'the case is being eagerly
watched for by everyone interested in
commerce Of this kind. The grounds
asked for lie between Lynnhaven river
and Cape Henry, a length of five miles,
and are much used. At next Friday
meeting it is expected that scores of
people will be here, inasmuch as hun
dreds of people of Norfolk, Princess
Anne county and Hampton are interested
in the action of the Board, not to men
ton the menhaden fishermen.
Six months ago Massie Brothers,
of Hampton, applied for 500 acres off
the Rip Raps. All during that time the
State Board has advertised if there
would be any objections, and not having
received single protest in all of that
} time, yesterday the firm was assigned
the ground asked for, the rental price
| to be arranged with Chairman Lee.
Massie Brothers are to plant shells at
the site.
4 At the afternoon session, and till two
O'Clock in the night, only routine bust
ness was transacted, when after two
! arduous days the Board adjourned until
their meeting next Friday. Mr.. Lee
will leave here today on the oyster flag
ship Commodore Maury to go up James
and other rivers scouting.