Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-01-15
THE OYSTER DOCTORS
PRESCRIPTION.
From DanviIle Rerizterl


our esteemed contemporary. the
hlcnmond Times-Dispatch, which re-
Gently began campaign of agitation
WIN view to breaking the BAYLOR
survey and having much of the
oyster rock and bottom open to lease
by planters, has been compelled NV tbo
logic OF acts to change its tact and
amend Its argument. 1t was at first
aneged that the Virginia oyster beds
were rapidly becoming depleted and
the determination of the oyster was
luguDrlously painted. We commended all
along that the price of oysters. which
Is an unerring index to the supply. did
not Indicate any scarcity nor anv cause
Tor fear of depletion of The bods
"lthout tangible evidence, wholly mon
hearsay, we believe, our contemnorarv
historically shrieked it's WARNING tb.t
the oyster was being exterminated and
the poor tongers who earn livelihood
oy Clustering would soon be witbout
occupation and liable to become nubl;c
charges. All of this dismal pronbecv
was based on the assertion or the &C,
sumption that oysters were scarce this
year and that they were growing
aiarmlngly scarcer every year.
In a lew short weeks we find the es-
eeemed Times-Dispatch reversing itself
ana admitting that instead of a SCARF
ity OF oysters there is an over-snnnlv
IN the Virginia shell-fish marts T.
eiCes the fact that in New York largo
oysters are In great demand, while re-
ports from Baltimore are that largo
oysters are not abundant. but otbers
are. On the other hand there comes
from Norfolk that the dealers who
Were formerly unable to fill their orders
aC TINS season, this season have few
orders to fill. IAN oversuppiy of ovs-
lers here was the cause of the Egbt
trade, says the Norfolk corresnondent
u ene RISING Gazette, which publishes
ene widely different reports from New
orK. 1t is asserted by our Richmond
that in New York and
New England the oyster industry 10
thriving with large orders and GOOD
returns while in Norfolk, Baltimore
ana Hampton the market is crowded
WIN oysters for which no sale at prof
'aDie prices can be found. The sole
problem, says our contemporary. is how
can best regain the trade sbo
las lost and furnish remunerative en-
''oyment to tongers, planters and
packers. 1t is then assumed that the
eason the Virginia oyster is not COM
'eting successfully as formerly with
ne New England product is that the
'irginia product has been allowed to de-
Then comes the conclusion.
establish which the editorial was
way to raise the stand
rd OF Virginia oysters is to adopt New
.ngland methods.
Inc fact is that, the Connecticut ovs-
er oeds arc in much closer touch to
&c" FORK than are the Virginia beds.
hu the Nutmeggers are as usual more n
nterprlsing in advertising their stock
40 In establishing distributing centers
The larger cities. Let the Virginia
ysiermen show the same enterprise
10 they will find ready sale for their u
'oducts. v
''ur contemporary in its advocacy of 5
asing the oyster bottom to private y
anters and corporations reminds ono
the cd doctor whose specially was
ring hts. II patient was i'll of anv II
her p1alady he forthwith proceeded to
We hun fits and then cure the fits.
lie Ilmes~Dispatch as an oyster doc
is convinced that planting is the a
'st successful way to pre- duce oysters
q TO perpetuate the supply, and if
Facts do not sustain this theory.
contemporary still insists that the
sters need nursing. When one has ,
determined a. conclusion it is not
hcult to manufacture or imagine
'mises. First, oysters are scarce.
m they are superintendent. a drpg -
the market as it were. Will our
temporary now inform an anxions
die which statement is correct If
her is?