Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-23

Virginia should not have come un-
der the ban mere may be some
truth as TO danger from polluted oys-
tiers that are cropped around great
cities. and oysters shipped from there
are usually labeled as coming from
some cleaner sphere-the Chesa-
peake Bay. for instance. renee. to
the distant buyer. all oysters share
the stigma
What effects business must natu-
rally affect the states revenues 'di-
rectly as well as indirectly and your
commission of fisheries. seeing this
condition. frankly admits that 1t has
striven harder than ever to make the
best showing possible in its depart
mcnt.''
Along the James.
Concerning the condition Of the in
dustry along the shores OF the James.
the report says:
Considers James Unimportant.
This river is more largely in the
public eye, for patent reasons, than
any other tidal section. 1t has been
brought by agitators into undue
prominence and importance. Out of a
total OF 100000 acres in the entire
state. the natural oyster grounds Of
the James number but 26.470 acres.
or this the seed beds are but one
half. or about one-twentieth of the
natural beds of Virginia. True. the
small area of seed ground is more
valuable than an equal aera in many
ether places and it is also less trou-
BILE than some.
Alleges Unlawful Holding.
"As to the 1921 acres Of James
River seed grounds We venture the
assertion that not ten thousand Of
them are being leSitimateiy utilized.
a good proportion being held unlaw-
fully held by Warwick planters. the
zigzag lines established by law re-
curing physical impcssibilities TO
maintain. Because OF a lawless dis
position. inbred for many years, and
intensified by recent agitation. this
commission Of fisheries has had to
devote unwarranted time and means
to tina, territory. THE same. to a
large extent was true Of our prede-
cessorsD In fact. about one-fourth
of the navy and our expenditures
are devoted to the James.
In contrast with this the Potomac
with many times greater area and
output: the RappanhannOck. with 35.-
600 acres, (35.O0O per cent greater
natural area than the entire James,:
the Pocomoke Sound with one rock
alone that all the James natural oys-
ter bottom migit be hidden I'M: the
ocean side item. times as prolific OF
seed. and many times the area):
Gwynn's Island and the little Plan
katank with area nearly equal to
the James). to say nothing OF the
York. Great Wicomico. Elizabeth.
Hampton Roads. Mobjack Bay. Tan
gier Sound-all told. some $500
square miles OF patroiling-have all
been deprived Of their deserved
share Of policing because of the
James. The state might be we'll lid
Of the James trouble and expense
bv either prohibiting planting above
the seed line. or e'se turning the
entire thing ever to planters. This
latter desire. We may say. y the chief
cause of all that uncalled-fcr notorie-
iy just al present over this mite OF
field. Last winter the board OF
fisheries drafted bill to rearranee
the lines in the upper James and
provide for the future renting Of de-
pIeted bottoms and the text OF the
bill is herewith submitted.
THE full text Of the bill appears
in the report)
The report embQdies some Interest
ing information tolching conditions
in the Potomac river and other va
ters and also devoteS several para
graphs to motor boats and eBcroacl,-
ing planters. II reiterates It's sag
gesfions of a year ago and rcnews
its recommendations rs 20 depleted
areas. The seed problem" also is
touched upon AZ length. and there
/. detailed financial summary.