Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-08-03
FISH AND OYSTER NOTES.

G. Oscar Howeth has purchased of |
Coulbourne Brothers Oyster Co. their
oyster shocking plant at Corrotoman |
Point, Lancaster county, and will carry |
on business there. w. w. Marshall |
has purchased VIM. T. Coulbourne's |
interest at Wheaton, and will be a
partner hereafter with Sam'l III. Coul-
bourne. VIM. T. Coulbourne has ac-
quired the entire interest of S. II.
Coulbourne and others in Baltimore.
Our good Board of Fisheries are GER
tafnly doing something. 1t is said that
the James River, since their severe in
spection, is as quiet as the grave. 1t
is now demonstrated that when the
illegal oyster catcher knows that he
will be arrested and fined, and perhaps
imprisoned, he finally desists, and ceases
his depredations. All hail, to a new
era in the oyster fishery situation. We
wish again to heartily endorse the good
work of the President, Mr.. Lee, and
the efficient Secretary, Mr.. Matthews.
We learn that our police boats on the
seaside have arrested three violators,
who were convicted and fined each S25.
The inspectors of the several Districts
are good men. Things look we'll for
the fall business. The (Accomac) Oys-
terman.
| WORK OF BOARD OF FISHERIES.
That a new spirit has come over the
people along the James who are inter-
ested in the oyster business is now
abundantly apparent. At, and sub
sequently to, the meeting last week of
the State Board of Fisheries in Hamp-
ton much cropped out to show that a
new era, or rather a new order of
management, has arisen.
1t is hard to all at once eradicate
principle and disposition that have been
years growing, but where too deeply
rooted for persuasive influences com
pulsion is being used. So it is that
depredations have almost entirely
ceased, and the so-called class of oyster
pirates have taken to the woods and
fields for a livelihood, greatly to the
betterment of the water interests.
The week was full of interest. The
Board of Fisheries procured injunctions
in Warwick Court for parties working
on the States beds under cloak of
private holdings. A jury in Warwick
Court for the first time in years
brought in conviction against one
roughing oysters, which came up from
Justices Court last spring, and the
present temper of the people almost
guarantees that other convictions will
follow. The day following, half dozen
boats and a dozen men were appre-
hended by the police steamers working
on the natural rocks under the cloak of
private stakes, and that night the
Chairman ST the Board in a gasoline
launch captured an old offender off
Mulberry Island.
Equally encouraging reports com e
from the Potomac river. A dredger
was run ashore by one of the
police boats after a short rifle fire.
The occupants of the boats escaped to
the woods but the boat and tackle were
captured and will likely be confiscated.
The day before, a lone longer had been
apprehended and fined. These captures
are not to be taken as Indicative of
constant violations, but that the few
violaters left are being trapped and
mulcted.
At the recent session of the State
Board of Fisheries, w. j. burlington
and j. B. Seward were reelected in
spectors for Warwick county. Next
meeting of the Board will be held Au-
lgust % in Norfolk.