Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-10-19
Communicated
SOME OYSTER TALK.

Prophets for years back have steadily
prophesied that in few years more
and the State Legislature would lease
out the natural oyster rocks"
The last legislature was more friendly
to the oyster interests than the writer
ever dared hope, much to his relief.
1t is only proper to state the reason of
the great feeling against the tongers,
held by our up-country and western
members. They claim that our tong
men rob the State and themselves of
the seed oysters on the natural beds.
that they will not and do not, unless
compelled by law, respect the oyster
laws. Some tongmen state as an ex-
cuse that others rob the rock and that
they had as well get their share. The
planters say that if they do not buy
oysters as they are offered and turn
down unculled seed that thew can
not buy to do business, for the tong
men will sell to other parties. This may
all be true. AS long as the tongmen
catch these seed oysters they will find
market, and longer this continues the
nearer we draw to losing our rocks. to the
detriment of so many people, who are
honest but do not realize how seriously
their interests are jeopardized by their
fellow tongmen. Deplete our rocks
and it will cause lessening of pros
perity along our water courses; lease
our rocks and it means failure to our
independent merchants.
The present Board of Fisheries seems
to exercise every precaution against
this evil, and yet it is understood that
Piney Island flats were dredged repeat-
edly at night before the season opened.
The oyster inspectors cannot control
this question unless the oyster tong
men unite and assist them. They NAV.
OF course, lessen the practice and pun
ish a few they can catch. Now it
seems, with all due respect to our oys-
termen, it is the duty of the oyster
union to take this matter in hand now,
before the opportunity is past.
Now 1T seems feasible that the union
adopt the following: that each member
pledge his support to the present laws.
abiding by them in his own interest.
that he will act as committee of one
and report to the union every violation
of the Gull law he may see, the union
to report the violators to the inspector,
and if any portion of the fine be awarded
the informant it should go to the union
for the purpose of protecting the in
terests of the oystermen. If this idea
be worthy of a trial, will not our lead
ing tongmen endeavor to adopt it. The
bulk Of our natural rocks are depleted
by certain element of our citizens.
who have never looked into the future.
This would have great tendency to
give them few thoughts in the present.
This seems the last resort, and now
is the time to apply a stringent remedy.
The tongmen must realize that they,
in breaking up the rocks, shape the
wedge for ourplanters to drive in.
1t is pleasure to espouse the cause
of a people who are endeavoring to
help and protect themselves, but an
utter impossibility to represent a
people who deliberately antagonize
laws made and passed by their friends
for their own protection.
The proposition is up to you for solu-
ton. What are you going to do about it?
Drift along to final depletion and
lease? If so, blame yourselves when
that time comes and take your medicine
that you are now preparing.
JNO. CURLETT.
Wheaton, Va.