Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-12-04
OYSTER STEALING
GREATLY REDUCED.
POLICE FORCE is ACTIVE.
Chairman Of the Virginia Fisheries
commis>ion,in Answering Attacks.
Says the James River Territory
should Not Be Used to Judge Con-
ditions in other Sections.
washington Herald. November 2sd. !

| SVhtniSSiOn OF flSnerleS or Virginia, IN
a lengthy statement to a correspondent
of The Washington Herald, in which he
explains the oyster conditions existing
in Virginia waters, declares that there
is no dearth of oysters in that State,
and there has been practically no steal
ing IN the oyster beds in the James and
Potomac rivers.
On account of the charges that Vir-
ginia oyster beds have been denuded
and that the industry is suffering fear
fully from ravages. the oyster question
Is one of the main topics of discussion
lin the State today. 1t is very likely
that the oyster problems will be taken
up at the next session of the legislature
and some sort of legislation will likely
be enacted.
Mr.. Lee says, in part:
After cruising over 5000 square
miles in the oyster waters of Virginia
and from actual tests, comparative
catches, and the opinions of those who
are engaged in the business, l should be
able to summarize the situation, not
alone from the viewpoint of the James.
but from other localities that are as vital
las they sustain more people, and which
should receive equal attention. From
complex conditions, the James, in its
proximity to Norfolk and Richmond is
unduly looked to to size up the oyster
situation for Virginia. Being the most
difficult grounds and people to look after
they consequently demand constant
vigil, engaging one-fourth of the entire
oyster navy in winter and half of it in
summer, although the James is hardly
the tenth part of the oyster field or
output in Virginia.
MEANS ARE SMALL.
1.-The upper James and upper Poto-
mae are the only Chesapeake seed-beds
we have, and are, therefore, important
factors in the industry. My predeces-
sors for this reason strained their re-
sources to keep them well watched.
With means too small it could not be done
effectually, and conditions grew from
bad to worse, some rocks Tor shell pilesl
In the James being carried bodily awav
to make suitable bottom on private
planting grounds.
with more means, the present Com
mission has reduced this summer ravaoe
to minimum, and during the three
summers of our administration every
planter and other purchaser of stolen
seed has practically closed his business
OF buying out of season. The past
summer saw more police boats and
more effective work on the James and
Potomac than ever before, and there
has been practically no stealing in those
waters. A class of people who had
grown up in lawlessness have been
driven out of the business, as thew
now find it more lucrative to turn to
the farms, truck patches and backwards
than to run the risk of being contin-
ually fined by the alert police.
STOPS THIEvING.
"Freshets and mud and a dearth of
spawn made the upper James river. or
limited area of seed beds. scant of ovs-
ters. This condition comes every two
Or three years, and sometimes two
years IN succession. Consequently. the
seed gatherers dropped below the
treshet line and began work with others
On the larger oysters-oysters that
must be culled and not taken under
.hree inches in length. Here was the
Usual quantity, and in finer condition
han last year. 1t did not take the
thousands of tongers long to strip this
united area of all lawful-sized oysters.
IND the large amount of small oysters
With them became so great a tempta-
Ion that the Commission of Fisheries
vas compelled to throw additional police {
orce into this place. The thieving S
pirits were rapidly fined and driven
ut. {
CONDITIONS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
las to other localities-an but the =
eed-beds of the upper Potomac, which ;
ave also suffered from natural causes :
we ind conditions much more favora- :
lie than for years. Touching on the
localities, applicable alike to
ne lesser, we find:
In the Rappahannock river better
atches and fatter oysters than for
ears. Tongers from the James and il
ther sections have invaded the Rappa- r
annock because of the opportunities is
Tered. G
The York river, almost depleted +,
ng ago by the neglected statute r,
Inch does not restrict summer clam
ing' is beginning to recuperate through
ore vlgllant summer policing. MANY I.
the York river tongers now find il .,
ore lucrative at home, and early this a. a.
ason left the James, whittier thew l
ually go. la
Inc same is true of Pocomoke VI
und and to a more marked degree.
'ree years ago this Virginia sound W
Is almost denuded of oysters. TODAY pl
is supporting fleet of several hun ri
ed boats that formerly operated in ri;
Potomac, James and Rappahannock. pc
'sters from Pocomoke Sound are di
nging in this dull time rs cents a ed
Shell The Pocomoke stands as I'll
liking example of what good but de- To-
'ted bottoms will do if guarded and
rmitted to resuscitate. G,
OYSTERS ARE PLENTIFUL. ca
"A similar demonstration is at Broad vi
ok, some fifteen hundred acres in of
4mpton Roads. For years night work tn
Norfolk county Illicit dredgers had tn
pit this rock unfruitful to the tongers. be
Al ~,