The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-18
CHAIRMAN lee
DEFENDS BOARD
Denies Positively That Oyster
Interests Are Suffering OH Ac-
count of Deficiency.
goATs NOT TILED UP" OR IDLE
declares That Business Cannot Be
Conducted at Same Expense
so as Year Ago,
BOATS NOT "TIED UP" OR IDLE

Hon. w Mcdonald Lee, chairman OF
,he state Board of Fisheries. Is in the
city on his way to HAMPTON. where the
board meets to-day. When seen iast
night and asked for statement con on.
CcTning the criticisms of the board for
running short of funds before the fiscal
wear is over Mr.. Lee said:
"Tle Board of Fisheries did no. in
tend mhEing reply to the hs% ai e.
funds and the Governors use Of
the Commodore Marry, but see
after n ten days absence along me
Maryland line. that some papers ahd
correspondents are inclined to interpret
inc incident as u criticism of the Gov
ernor by the hoard, and his reply IN
tie light of answering that crltlclsm.
Both are without this slightest foun-
daton. During this, administration inc 1..
Governor and the board have freely
dyisel with each other, keeping IN
touch ON all pertinent matters.
I'm tits connection the Governor eS-
presses himself to the effect that no
or close friendship to greater extent
than has the Board of Fisheries
offered to .hc Governor.
at the beginning of the exposition
the board offered the use of the Maury
to Governor Swanson, who accepted.
saying that the attendant expense
would be paid out of "a fund at his
command when through with its ser
vice, notwithstanding the fact that ihe
is commander-in-c chief of the state. S
navy and could use the boats at Volt
ton without reimbursement. Ills en-
tertainments aboard the boat We're
novel and evoked favorable comment,
nj the same time saving much TO lie
State because less expensive than IKE
occasions ashore.
the board to iNGhmond was at request
OF the Governor: to figure on these eX-
penses, since the boat would not be
further needed by him. a gratuitous
Interpretation of this by reporter of
an evening paper led to unwarranted
representations and publicity.
Like SNOWFALL. 1t has augmented
as 1t proceeded Some of the state
lnents concerning the management of
the boats are misleading and reflect
upon The board.
Not the First Time.
This j.. by no means the first time
board that the $4,000 appropriation
has been consumed before the end OF
the fiscal year. but III each Instance
as In this, provision has been made by
The members and the work of patrol
ling has not ceased.
1.-THE activity of the present board
Is a matter of public note. With large
1y increased police force, necessitated
by increased numbers engaged in the
oyster industry and their new methods
of operating. with old boats run down
needing expensive repairs. and not OF
the type for ready sale; the compui-
sorry addition to the navy OF three
Gasolene boats TO graphic with ones
of like tgpe Ca condition which has
arisen only within The past two years
and increasing enormously and watch
boats for James River; with new
steamer (worth nearly double in the
market the price it cost of greater
Il ~ n 1-tIY1 ,ir,r how, ny
two combined of the old navy, and nc
extra provision made for its operating
tr the hurry hours of the last Legis-
lature; the great advance in machine
shop charges and grub bills this
Jamestown year, the board has moi
hesitated to tell every one with whom
they were dealing that ii was short OF
funds and was necessarily econcmiz
thing Or that thing. The board fore,
saw twelve months ago largely ttE.
condition, and was not unprepared fol
It.
Business Growing.
THAT $4,000 to-day win not run
growing business as 1t did eight o.
even four years ago, any fair mins
VIII admit.
THAT the deficiency or neccssar,
excess OF expenditure will reach $50,
nOO, as publishfd,,sis another error.
*fll not he the half of that sum, no
equal the increased revenue derive
from the industry this year over las
year, largely raised because we had
10 In rough weather
Anent the comment about partic
travelling on the States boats. we wis
20 say that. following a custom Il he
lieve) OF former boards. any Virginia
going our way was welcomed, but {
no cost 70 tho State. But twice
eighteen months have families or men
hers of the boafd taken a cruise, an
then the state VAS Reimbursed by III
members In some otter instanc.
when accompanying as on onr round
guests hayetnol only paid for tho
own meath, but meals Tor the boat
crew aud coal bills. the latter ga.
To the State.
Assumed Responsibility.
THE chairman and secretary Ina,
during tile past year personally rein
Lursed TIE State to a considerable g.