Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-09
Chamber Of Commerce Committee
Says James River Beds are
Practically Barren.
no REMEDY IS RECOMMENDED
Full Examination Into This Subject
Probably viii Result in Urgent Ap-
peal to Legislature. However-Pros.
pect Of Bringing Fredericksburg
Shoe Factory here-social Session.

Newspaper reports concerning tn"
depleted condition of the natural
oyster rocks in James river are fully
confirmed in a report made to the
Chamber of Commerce last night ny
Chairman W. G. Morton. of the COM
mittee on statistics and informal ION
No plan for remedying the untortu
nate conditions is recommended in
the report, but the sense OF those
present last night was that IN"
chamber should make systematic
examination into the subject and an-
ply to the legislature for relief.
The Report.
Following is q copy of the commit
x tees report:
ITO the President and Members OF
4 the Chamber Of Commerce,
{ Newport News. Va.
acting upon u communication re-
ceiyed from tn" secretary or thr
Chamber OF Commerce in which
was directed to prepare report upon
the oyster industry OF James River.
respectfully beg leave to report as
follows:
Monday. Nov 16. 1908. n visit was
made to the oyster grounds at the
mouth of James river, and inter
views were held Throughout, the day
with both tongers and planters. There
are about $1,000 acres of public oy-
ster rock in James River, yet only
266 boats with 525 men were fond
engaged As a rule there were two
men to each beat tcuger and a
euler. The crews averaged to y
bushels each per day and worked )
to 4 days per week on an average
At IS to As cents a bushel each man
would therefore receive little over
so cents per day or about $500 per
week. mere pittance under any car
cumstances and especially when the
dlficulties and hardships of the EN-
ployment are considered. We were
informed that In years past $3.50 to
$500 per day was made iw the aver
age tonger, while a corresponding
greater number OF bushels were tax
en-. When asked for an explanation
OF the present condition. the reply
was that the oysters were not there.
that the rocks were practically bar
rem, being so made by system OF
petty and wholesale thievery carried
on both day and night. Right here
should add that this report Is not
made in criticism OF the State Fish
cries Commission. for no examination
of the rules and regulations adopted
for their guidance or OF any of their
EaI h. made
an established fact. however. that
when an oyster pirate Is caught with
his vessel laden with oysters taken
Illegally. he is allowed TO proceed
with his cargo upon the payment OF
a nominal fine Of so to $50. not CON
sidering whether few or hundreds
Of bushes Of oysters constitute the
cargo. Beth tongers and planters
agree as to the scarcity of the oy-
sters and the practical barrenness oil
the rocks. As to the remedy. diamet-
REALLY opposite views are h. I'd. The
tongers wish the Baylor Survey brok-
en-, but only that its boundaries may
be extended, and that more efficient
police protection be given. First and
last, however they insist that the
public oyster rocks are their own pc
culiar property and do not want them
taken away. The planters wish the
Baylor Survey broken and the natural
rock bottoms leased by the state to
whomsoever may apply. preference"
being given to the tOngers Al pres
ent the state leases about 1880 acres
Of oyster lands. ard received there
from last year. a net revenue Of SOL
SIG. The cain is made that II the
236,000 acres Of the public bottoms
are leased they will bring a far
greater proportionate revenue than
the bottoms already leased as the
public bottoms are natural rock hot
toms and far more valuable Which
ever may be right IN the remedy ne
suggests. be he tonger or planter. the
fact that We have here right AZ our
very door an industry, a literal gold
mine II properly developed. which is
going 10 wreck and ruin. calls for our
Rcst careful consideration. No leg
islst've enactment can be had for
year unless a special session Of the
legislature be called And as oysters
are reported plentiful in the Kappa
hammock ard other rivers in fact a
drug On the market. there seems 20
10 tf-ta Of THE inp,