Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-04-17
OYS TIERS AND NEW YORK
HEALTH BOARD.

HEALTH BOARD.
New York City is congratulating it
self over the action of the State Board
of Health in trying to prevent the sale
of disesse-bearing oysters in that city.
Somuch typhoid has beeu traced di-
rectly to oysters in New York City
that crusade was made against this
danger, and it was found upon exami-
nation that many oysters were fattened
on bottoms deluged with the sewerage
from the millions of people living in and
around New York City. The popularity
of the oyster as an article Of food and
the difficulty that the health authorities
had in dealing with this vquestion show
the extent of the demand for this lus-
cious bivalve. The danger in eating
oysters that have been raised in I'M
Clearly surroundings, however, has
been accentuated, and attention is
again called to the unparalleled advan-
tages offered by Virginia as an oyster
producing State. In point of flavor and
size and general edibility, the Virginia
oyster is not surpassed by any in the
world, nor can any state offer purer or
better waters for the cultivation and
production of oysters. AS The Times
Dispatchso often said during the past
session of the Legislature, and as we
will continue to say, Virginia can readi-
Iy produce oysters to the value of
$1,000, 900 per annum. but it will never
be done until the unproductive bottoms
of the Baylor survey are opened to the
planters under proper restrictions, and
until the State Board of Fisheries pays
less attention to pursuing pirates and
more towards the scientific questions of
oyster culture. Times-Dis-
patch.
e. With Difference to the opinion of
the I'D, we would remind it that
no one better than cur Richmond
contemporary knows that the Board
OF Fisheries tried hard to get the
Legislature at its recent session to
pass some remedial and advanced
legislation along the lines advocated
by the Times Dispatch, though no.,
so drastic or Objectionable. The
Board pushed its codified laws and
the James River resurvey bill-to
the detriment of itself in some quar-
ters, yet with conviction, then and
now, that such relief would be high.
lv advantageous to Virginia and all
classes in the oyster industry. The
coditication bill was never considered
by the committee of tine Senate and
never got of the calender of the
House. The James River bill was
reported and passed without a dis
senting voice in the Senate; was re-
ported unanimously from the House
Committee on Chesapeake and its
Tributaries, and would have passed
when called up in the House but for
two obstacles-one the lack of con-
stitutional vote, aud the other be-
cause representatives who had agreed
in good faith with the representa-
tives OF all sections on this bill as a
desirable compromise, broke the
faith and resorted to little
gallery play and buncombe talk.
incorporating things and soaring
some weakened fellows. These
are the facts, in short, and it is not
the Boards fault or desire to neglect
the scientific questions of oyster
culture" in the pursuit of "pirates. !"
The administration of fisheries affairs
In their annual report, in private
conversation and in newspaper arti.
cles, urged, and still insists that
something must be done in the way
OF legislation TO relieve a depressed
condition. 1t has now sufficient
means with which to conduct State
oyster affairs, but it is woefully lack
ing in laws by which to proceed. y
There was a hope that some one
or more of the Commission of Fish
cries might be enabled to visit the
North Atlantic and the Gulf States
to study conditions and improve
ments there, which same would be
OF material advantage to us, but they |
are reminded that political and per-
sonal animosities Cat home, not in.
landD would cry "junketing" and
some might be led to believe that
busy men were wasting time in tour
ing at the ate'sexpense, thus invit-
ing criticism. Fair minded people
know that We cannot shut ourselves
up within wall like policies and vet
as We should. Examples of
what politics is doing against oyster
and Tidewater advancement
are patent in Maryland, and only
the other day we see that the
dominant political faction in Louis.
lana has decided to turn out her
oyster commission, reorganize and
conduct affairs little more to the
liking of the voters of the Gulf sec.