Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-04-10

SVuhly are Senuing thousands of dollars
north and south for oysters every wear
which should be left in our own county.
have been in the oyster business and
have seen the necessity of raising our
own plants for several years. Fish
ing Gazette.
Giant rock fish-big fellows weighing
from 80 to 60 pounds-have shown
a decided liking for the waters of the
Chesapeake bay during the past week.
and. as result, many of these heavy
weight fish have been displayed in the
windows of Baltimore restaurants. The
big rock are known as herring rollers
by the fish men because they follow the
herring and shad schools from the
Southern waters, feeding on the latter.
Inc fact that shad and herring have
been running earlier this season than
usual accounts for the early appearance
Oh the big rock. They also seem to be
more numerous this year than for manv
years past. Thus far this season the
largest one weighed about 60 pounds
Ihis Is not record rock, as some of
the older dealers remember having seen
big rock weighing 80 to 100 pounds. The
average rock received along the ATTAIN
tic coast weighs from two to five mounds
each. They are estimated to be from
to 8 years old. The giant rock there
fore, fish dealers argue, must be from
III to Ia years old. They sell at about
81 EACH There was a time. however
when the giant rock was not such n
good seller. One of the Oldest whole
sale fsh dealers recalls that about 40
years ago he went to Alexandria to buv
lot of big rock. He bought them for
Ia cents each. He took them to Bal
timore and sold them for so cents each
at that time good price.
HEADQUARTERS AT HAMPTON.
From Hampton Monitor.l
commissioner w. Mcdonald Lee ar
rived in Hampton this morning to make
preparations for the establishment of
permanent headquarters in this citv for
the State Commission of Fisheries.
some time ago it became a certainty
.hat Hampton would be made permanent
headquarters for the Commission and
all the stationery of the Commission has
been printed with Hampton, Va. as a
GATE line. 1t is now settled that the
office in the bank of Hampton building
VIII be made the general head office Of
the Commission.
Ahis VIII mean good deal for Hamp-
ton. 1t will mean that all moneys will
De disbursed from here, as pav-rol,s
and vouchers will be made up from
wnere the headquarters are located II
VIII mean that the vessels of the State
oyster navy will come here frequently
Tor supplies and instructions. 1t will
mean that the meetings of the Com
mission, IN the main. will be held in
hampton, and some of these MEETINGS
Will be OF great deal of Importance
and viii bring large number of people
here.
hampton has for long time been
recognized as the logical headouarters
point of the oyster industry, and iefs
gratifying to the new city to see that
the State Commission has given her
official recognition.
IL was announced today that tho
commission of Fisheries had appointed
inspector William E. Lawson, of Hamp.
Ion' as supervisor of the inspectors of
me state IN addition to the position of
Inspector of this district. This na,r
position will include auditing accounts
't0', and Mr., Lawson will be in charge
If the headquarters.