The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-07
TO PRESERVE
OYSTER BEDS
Extra Session May Con-
slider Question.
MATTER MAY BE in CALL
John 4. Wallace Has Investigated
Conditions.
believes with Gsver.er That I.sss-
tsy sAeuiA Ds Regulated b.
Cs.nisssss--sei.ias MN
May AIss De Pre-


The tip came rather straight yester-
day that among the things practically
certain OF mention in the Governors
extra session call 10 legislstion to pre-
serve the oyster beds Of Alabama. II
10 said to have engaged his. mind a.
seriously a. did the growing necessity
~ he conceived II, OF epacting more
stringent laws looking to the preser-
walton Of the forests Of the state.
Hon. John H. Wallace, Jr., state
Game and Fish Commissioner. on his
return yestsrday from Mobile, gave
some ideas Of what matters might be
Incorporated in an oyster commission
bill. On Monday he visited Coden,
thence went to Portersviiie Bay and
Dauhpfn Island. trayersing the larger
and more important oyster grounds Of
the state Jurisdiction. The commits
sioner said he must thank the Coden
and other citisens for their Kindness
In plotting him through his investga-
tion OF oyster conditions. Also. Mr. !.
Wallace noted that the oyster inter-
ests. as we'll ~ most other citizens.
were inclined to be In favor OF the
state assuming regulation OF the Bay
in respect OF this valuable resource OF
Alabama.
az was much Impressed with the
rapid decrease OF the oyster supply of
Alabama" said Mr.. wallace yesterday.
II was led to Coden, then to Porters-
willie Bay and from there to Dauphin
Island. In the frst waters II is esti-
mated there 10 . stretch Of about 1872
600 acres OF oyster reefs. These are
the principal reefs Of the bay. Maybe
not everyone knows that last year was
the poorest oyster year OF the bays
history.
There IL certainly a reason for this.
The reefs have been fished on all but
the small .unmarketable oysters. There
seems to, be no check on the indiscrim-
mate gathering of the oysters. i
think the matter should be put In the
hands of commission. This I have
recommended to the Governor"
Among the probable features OF an
oyster conservation bill are said to be
q provision which will establish q
closed season on fishing them. meas
uring the season by the time OF
spawning. There win be culling sea-
son. during which none but oysters
three inches and more In length shall
be nshed, and further provision may
be inserted forbidding public reefs to
be fshed for planting purposes except
In April and october.
Mr.. wallace 10 In favor OF passing a
law. IL 1t would stand the constitutional
test, prohibiting the expectation OF
Alabama oysters for canning purposes
He said he had found that three can
neries in Alabama, had been shut down
by methods of Mississippi factories 70.
straining competition in this State.
"They offer fancy prces for oysters
while the Alabama canneries are In OPP
erationzr said Mr.. wallace. "As soon
as the Alabama canneries ar ethus
forced to shut down. being unable to
pay such prices. the competitors with
draw from the Alabama neld Of sup
ply. For this reason favor stopping
INTERPRETATION OF oysters"
Another bill that 70 said to be fran.
ing for the consideration OF the iesis'
seining operations in the ish waters
OF Alsbama. II 10 proposed to limit
the net mesh TO q stretch Of two and
one.haff inches In the bays. and 70
nreyent the seining and netting in all
waters Of the State that empty into
salt water.