The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-28
MAKES At TACK ON
FISHERIES BOARD
Correspondent Comments on Ger.
tain Matters and Alleges
Extravaganza.

TN letter to the editor Of this pa
per Mr.. w. 7. Mayo. of The Hague,
i Va. comments in an interesting
manner upon the transactions t Of
Mayo says:
1 have before me the last report of
of the State Board of Fisheries. From
this 1T appears: CD There are 1852
acres of oyster bottom occupied by
planters, who paid therefor during the
of s6I,61l. in round numbers, for rent
and taxes upon shells and planted
oysters. 1t is estimated that they give
smpEl6yment to about 5000 workers r,{ as
are $4,000 acres of natural rock with
in the Baylor. survey. and a large
area of bottom in the. Potomac River,
al of which is public ground for the
Maryland, upon which 1850 tongers
and dredgers are licensed to take oys-
tiers, and for which privilege they pay
the State sa6,94s. 60 The State main
cost cost $50, 600 to purchase and equip; a
Board Of Fisheries. and a number of
special police on the ocean side, at d
cost of $4,000 per annum. in round
sspectors who take for their services
10 per cent. Of the gross revenues,
amounting to $1,000 per annum max
Ing total OF $4,000. for the purpose
OF enforcing the. various measures de-
signed to save the natural rocks from
destruction by those for whose benefit
they have been surveyed and set
apart. a. The planters themselves pay
f TO, guarding and protecting and de-
particle Of aid is given them by the
police authorities in fostering and de-
veloping their industry, and nowhere
does 1t appear that this police force
| is necessary or has ever been potent
in protecting the natural rocks from
encroachments by the planters-the
ordinary local machinery of the law
being abundantly able to do this with
onl .ne pui ns'a AID OF armored Graf,
ing industry has not advanced to any
considerable extent because OF a scare.
/ Ivy In the supply OF seed oysters, and
me longing and dredging Industry is
In the face of this statement Of
tration we Will assume to be true
though grave doubt is thrown upol
us good reason to believe that the
expenditure exceeds the Income by
greatly more than appears from this
statement. the board makes the us.
So feesyeG that direct reqr1
every 81 expended. And proceeds t.
advise that It be given more libcra
means =, for Its work, and freer hane
~ auiiAn'slstlnS tne laws; tnat anoth
chased at a prime cost Of $4,000 an,
a half-dozen motor boats at q cos
Of $4,000. And this. even should til
grea ter srop part If not the whole rove
consumed! Verify Hobson is not big
: sion than this board! 'Ss''
Measures nre now before the Leg
stature designed to carry out thes
:. to be. provided, in order to raise TIL
salaries of its officers. and an in
4 creased appropriation is to be mad
!, out Of the funds derived from til
: unprotected; unoffending. seedless an
planting. industry. that neitl
8 Ier Will, nor possibly can, receive an
t benefit directly or Indirectly. from til
), expenditures, that 1T may go forth,
1 And sweep through the deep,
: While the stormy winds do blow"
Seriously, submit that thore
report to, show that .nu state Boar
OF Fisheries has been Instrumental
aeve looping the oyster interest OF TIL
= State, nor In collecting legitimate re,
|, enue. The rents and taxes from plan
q treasurers for per cent, .commissio
] that now costs 10 per cent. and tn
> report shows that the longing int,
!. est Is steadily declining and the tax,
], systarn bv $4,000.
Might 1t not, therefore, be wiser
$ disnense with the Board OF Fisheri
Il lpltogether. and substitute therefor
: ldenartnent or bureau of fisheries. vii
y duties limited to dissemipa ting know
4 ledge as to the best method Of pr,
Il dmcing the greatest quantity OF ii
! best oysters in the most prontab
q manner from given area. and gi,
the individual citizen fr@er hand
d advance himself in this industry. as
/. every other, that he may Thereby 20,
trihnte ia the welfare of the who
: State. OF which he Is an integral mar
J, TIL. object of the laws should be
- heneht tho people engaged in Il
y OYSTER industries. not to set So for ;
The State doesn't necd-to employ Il
= hoard to make SO for It for 81. IT g;
4 raise abundant revenue by tust al
= EQUITABLE taS laws, II measures %
a taB.a1n 70 encourage peace. and nro