The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-02

for the establishment OF . board OF
syster commissioners, to prescribe
their duties and provide for their COM
pensation: to regulate the manner Of
taking and catching oysters on public
reefs and provide bedding grounds. and
the shell: to prescribe license fees for
oyster catchers and for boats engaged
in taking and catching oysters: to hx
and prescribe q tax on oysters canned
and shipped raw in this State; to pro-
vide for the protection and patrol Of
oyster grounds, and to provide Tor the
leasing Of barren water bottoms owned
by the State; to prevent the transpor-
tation Of oysters in the shell or partial
ly cooked from the State for canning
purposes; to provide that all moneys
collected for boat taxes and the tax on
oysters be paid into the State treasury
and credited to the oyster protection
fund, and to fix penalties for violation
Of the provisions of this act"
Some of the oystermen on the coast
are urging free trade'-that is, they
are opposed to the plan OF prohibiting
the Gamers of Mississippi from taking
Alabama oysters out Of this state for
canning purposes. Such law exists
where the largest oyster canneries In
the world are in operation. and where
a strong combination exists between
some Of the largest packers. An Ala
bama cannery, under present condi-
lions. could not get oysters from Mis-
sissippi to compete with the Gamers Of
that State on the buying end, while the
Mississippi Gamers could come into
Alabama, periodically. and by running
- ~ AhA
soon make the business Improbable
for the Alabama concern. and its sup
ply OF oysters irregular and uncertain.
Under the terms of the bill steam
vessels are not permitted to take oys-
tiers with dredges from the public reefs.
nor are sailing vessels permitted to
haul In the dredges with other than
hand power. The closed season Is from
May / to September !. Taking oysters
for planting. without culling them. Is
permitted only In the months OF April
and November. Oysters are to be GULL
ed Of empty shells and small oysters
and cannot legally be offered for sale
IL less than three inches across, from
hinge to mouth. The oyster commits
sion Is given authority 70 stake on any
natural reef which has been depleted.
that the young oysters may grow and
replenish the reef. then 1t may be
opened for use again at the discretion
Of the commission.
standard measure for oysters Is
fixed. A tax of cents per barrel is
imposed, to maintain the machinery OF
enforcement of the law, and to provide
funds for the extension Of the reefs. A
tax of 500 for each steam box Is
placed upon canneries and raw oyster
dealers are to be taxed lis OF cent
per barrel The license for oyster
boats ranges. according to tonnage,
from 81 to $40 each. A patrol for the
oyster grounds Is provided to prevent
depreciation Of public and private oys-
ter beds. The oyster commission Is re-
stricted from expanding more money
at any time than there 10 In the "oys-
ter protection fund" but can use what
surplus may exist at any time Tor the
extension of the public reefs, by spread
ing shells on the reefs or by taking
oysters from places where they are too
thick. or where endangered by fresh
water. and planting them in, safer
places, where they are too thin. The
rights of the state to oyster bottoms
are defined and authority is given to
lease barren" bottoms for oyster
planting purposes only to citizens OF
ALABAMA or firms and corporations
domiciled or chartered in the state; the
limit being 100 acres to any one hrm,
corporation or individual. The price
per acre is nominal, and is fxed. with
maximum and minimum limits. by the
oyster commission. The oyster COM
mission also.has authority to settle dis
putes between lessees.
The rights of riparian owners are not
interfered with at all. They may still
plant and harvest their crop OF oysters
over an area 500 yards in front of their
property from the shore line.
There is an immense area of avail
able bottom, now barren. which would
make happy homes for millions of oys-
ters under such a law, and the indus
try will become one of great profit.
eventually. both to the State and to the
people of the coast country.