Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-06-25
TO RESURYEY
THE JAMES.

auI JnNalys
tFrOm Newport News Tsmes-Heraid.l
For the past several days the geo
detic survey boat, Fishhawk. has
been turned over to the Fish Com.
mission by the United States Commits.
sion of Fisheries. This survey and in.
vestigatioo, which is to be made this
summer, is at the behest of Governor
Swanson and the Virgiria Fish Com
mission. Oyster conditions were such
and so many complaints were being
made and criticism was so rife that Il
was commonly agreed that the best
thing that could be done would be to
have an uninterested and absolutely
non-partisan tribunal come to the James
river, the bone of contention, and make
full and complete report.
Some time ago the preliminary ar
engagements for this survey were made.
when the Fishhawk visited her. Al
that time it was announced that the
investigation would be commenced sc
soon as warm weather came, the latte,
part OF this month or the first of July.
Newport News Press.l
The people of this vicinity are pleased
with the prospect of having a resuryev
OF the James River oyster rocks made.
To the average man the talk about the
Baylor survey, public rocks. private
beds, etc, is more or less unintelligible.
but everybody knows that for some
reason or other during the past few
seasons oysters have been scarce. of
poor quality and very costly. It would
be hard to make conditions a great deal
worse, so whatever may be done by the
State IN an effort to rehabilitate the hi
valve industry will be better than leav-
ing the situation to take care of itself
With all of its oyster navy and it's
commission formerly board
OF fisheries, with the chairman's salary
limited to an EXCEPTIONALLY low fipurel
Virginia oyster industry is ran;dlv
dwindling away.
James river oyster grounds not only
are IN more depleted condition. pro-
pably, than any others in the State
but they are right at our doors, hence
the people of Newport News are vital
iy interested in any effort that NAV he
made for their rehabilitation.
From Richmond Times-Dispatch
IN conformity with a request from
Governor Swanson for a resurvev of
the oyster grounds in the James river.
the United States steamer Fishhawk
IN command of DR.. H. F. Moore. of
the Department of Fisheries. put in at
Newport News yesterday for the mr.
pose of beginning the work. The Fish
hawk was accompanied by the Commo-
dore Maury, the flagship of the Virginia
oyster navy, which will remain with
the United States vessel until the re-
survey work is completed. w. McDon-
aid Lee, chairman of the Virginia Com
mission OF Fisheries, is now in Rich
nond looking after some private af-
airs, though he will join DR.. Moore in
few days, and remain with the fleet
Mr.. Lee expressed great delight that
ne Governor was successful i'm inter-
sting the United States authorities in |
he matter, for he says IL is one of |
much Importance to the oyster industry
Z the State. The resurvey will take
all the oyster grounds in James river
'hich begin at Newport News and end
Mulberry Island. a distance of eiRh-
cen miles.
DIR. Moore is considered a high au-
hority on the oyster industry. having
lade life study of it in all its compli-
ated phases.
he will make two surveys, SO as to
st fair idea. of conditions at two
nerent seasons Of the year. The
resent one will probably extend through
lie month Of July, the other to begin
September i. There are three i'm
'rtant questions upon which DIR. Moore
Ill report: What rocks are depleted:
hat percentage of those found To be ,
'pleted are capable of being replen-
he'd. and what proportion of the whole /
e now productive. This report will
made first to the Commission of I
sheries, that body transmitting the
formation TO the Governor. who will I
turn lay 1t before the General Assem-
y at its coming session. II
Settle Great Question.
1t is the hope Of the Governor. ma c
eli as the Commission of Fisheries. q
at the resurvey will result in fixing a q
Icy which will tend to settle the j
ig-drawn-out controversy between
e tonger and the planter, as to what 4
natural rock in the James river. p
rs is a question which has been in e
'pute for many years, harassing the d
vernors. the Legislature and the e
mmlssion OF Fisheries. as well as il
'se engaged in the industry, both as a,
lgers and planters. The Constitu- o.
n of the State declares that the =.
turai oyster rocks in whatever wa ~
3 within Virginia are the property a
the whole people. thus prohibiting 10
planter from stalking them Off and d,
ding them as personal property, to er
exclusion of the longer and other ar
zens. All parties realize this fact G,
the trouble has arisen over the M
stion OF what is a natural rock. St
is this question that DIR. Moore tn
/, IN his report, undertake to de- LIE
nine. Those rocks found to be de-
led. and incapable of being replant-