Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-20
FISH AND OYSTER NOTES.

| ohdu were quoted w edneSday In New
York at 75 and % cents.
The Commission of Fisheries will
meet Tuesday next in monthly meeting
at Murphy's Hotel, Richmond.
Shad and herring are being shipped
from the Rappahannock in sufficient
quantities to box and barrel.
There has not been known such de-
preston in the oyster market for wears.
Hard times and good weather-and not
lack of oysters or poor quality-are the
causes.
Oyster dredging season on Chesa-
peake Bay and the Potomac river
closed Saturday night, and until next
October the taking of oysters by
dredges viii be unlawful. longing
season will not end in the Potomac until
April 25th. longing in Virginia waters
ceases March 31st.
Underwater Virginia had able repre-
sentation in the Oyster Growers and
Dealers Association of North Amer
lea, which has just been permanently
organized at New York. This organi-
cation will protect the oyster interests
OF the country against attacks and to
this end will have a permanent publi-
cation committee, which will inyesti-
gate all printed matter detrimental to
the industry with suitable reply thereto.
Frank Darling, of Hampton. is Third
Vice-President of the National Associ-
alton; Alfred VanNyvenheim, w. d.
Hemingway, of Norfolk, and R. A.
Armstrong, of Hampton, are on the
board of directors.
There are two important measures dy-
ing in the Legislature which could be ia
ken up and passed next week if Tidewa-
ter members would put their heads to it.
One is the Howle bill protecting stur-
geon of three feet and under, and the
other is the codiied oyster laws which
the State has been at some expense to
have shaped up and which embodies
many admirable new provisions, among
them q inch Gull law, a provision
defining the mouth of Migrants bay in
Northumberland county, a provision
protecting the natural rocks from en-
croachment by planters, one to ex-
clude from the negroes who go north
in summer and return only to oyster.
and various other good points.
SEED OYSTERS GOING.
Norfolk Ledger-Dispatoir.A
The oyster industry. urder the very
efficient charge of Mcdonald Lee, chair
man of the Board of Fisheries, and
Secretary Wilkins Matthews, has been
much improved, but it is apparent that
they realize that the time has come when
the natural rock" should not remain
barren, with the planters eager for seed
to plant. In synopsis of the report of
Chairman Lee we find these expressions
"A contrast drawn between our
States management of its water indus
tries and those States north of us as
well as south of us, showing our natural
advantages to be greater, but in most
respects our policies to be the weaker.
1.-The natural rocks under rigid polio
ing are recuperating, but both planting
and longing interests, as well as fish,
crabs and clans, need attention and
legislation. The ocean side, James
river and Potomac river particularly
call for immediate legislation.
'Some bottoms in Mobjack bay and
on the seaside should be let out for seed
purposes. Unless seed can be procured
more readily than now many interests
will suffer. A seed line,' as in the
James, should be established in the
Potomac.
A Legislature struggling with ''sur,
plus" and limited in time may not b,
expected to digest this oyster question,
but it would be time wisely spent should
it heed the warning to protect one O
the finest industries of the State by MOI
allowing the natural rock' to be de
pleted and destroyed and the planter
left without seed and the tongers with
out living.