Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-13
FISH AND OYSTER NOTES.

James b. Pitts, near Merry Point
caught 800 large mud shad at one haul
with sein in Eastern Branch a little
over a week ago.
B. t. Sullivan and son caught 42 tur-
ties IN Potomac Greek Monday weigh
ing from 2 TO 40 pounds each. Tbev
were shipped North from Frederieks-
burg.
Coniiscation proceedings Monday IN
Nansemond court for condemnation
and sale Of Stant's boat. convicted of
dredging oysters, was decided in favor
of the State.
Marylanders charge that Virginia
got the better of them on the Potomac
seed law, and there is stiff fight in
the Maryland legislature, with chances
In favor of adoption of the joint agree
ment.
Planters on York river are suffer
ing great loss this season on account Of
the oysters being deeply buried in the
mud, and they are being dredged with
great difficulty. 1t is stated that the
loss to the oystermen of that section
will be great.
The increasing Of the powers and
equipment of the Board of Fisheries win
help some, but cultivation by the
planters is the only thing that will
restore some of these bottoms. and
create an ample supply or seed oysters.
Norfolk LedgerDispatch.
Commander Howard is maxim. a de-
termined effort to end the carving of
understood oysters from the Maryland
beds to be used as seed. Some carroes
he estimated to have run from so to 20
per cent small oysters. Captains of
two schooners and a power boat encap-
ed IN the traffic were arrested last
week. The men were taken before
Justice Haddaway, of Talbot county.
found guilty and fined.
Richmond Times Disaatch1
Despite the earnest and INTELLIGENT
efforts of Speaker Byrd, Delegate
Green, Senator Wickham, Senator Hol-
land and Senator Watkins, all proposals
looking towards a reformation of the
oyster laws were defeated at Saturday
nights session cf the House. This fail
ure to deal with the necessities of the
situation is in every way deplorable.
AS Chairman Lee, of the State Board
OF Fisheries, has stated in his annual
report and at public hearings, the oys-
ter industry needs careful and immedi
ate attention. The bill which was killed
on Saturday, through sthe strenuous
efforts of Messrs. Rev and Stubbs
would have cured some of the obvious
defects in the present oyster laws. AS
1t Is, two years must elapse before any
dehnate change of policy can be made
IN the development of seed oysters.
Meanwhile, Maryland, Connecticut.
Delaware, Louisiana and Texas. which
have far better laws for the govern
ment of this industry, will still further
increase the advantage they have OBJ
tanned over the Virginia oyster produ-
GERS. The publicity which has been
given the oyster laws at this session
VIII, however, be productive of the
good results of directing general atten-
ton to the conditions which the mar
row and benighted policies of some
Underwater representatives are seeking
to perpetuate. To efficiently deal with |
this problem all that is necessary is to
give the General Assembly accurate
information. The appropriation intend
ed for the specific purpose of deter
mining the producing power Of the bot
toms in James River was lost with the
Heath of the bill 1t is very much TO
De hoped, however, that the State
Board of Fisheries will attempt such
Investigation on its own account. With
he information so obtainable. and with
he awakened publlcl interest in this
sreat question, it will be hardly posi-
Die to prevent enacting a comprehen-
ave scheme of legislation on this sub
ect in 1910.