Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-16
|OYSTERMEK STAND FIRM
Will Not Allow Stakes Put
Back in James.
BELIEVE IT'S THEIR RIGHTS
Captain Lawson Returns from Scene
After Holding Conference With Isle
OF Wight Men-Tongers Form
Strong Organization.

-----
Capt. William T. Lawson, chief of
police of the oyster navy OF Virginia
and inspector for Elizabeth City coun-
". returned to Hampton yesterday al
ternoon from Isle of Wight coInty.
where he spent the day in conference
with the oyster tODgers over the pull
ing up of the stakes in James river
last Thursday.
Capt. lawson made The "Trip to
James river on the Comomdore Maury ),
the flagship of the oyster navy, and
he said that he was very cordially re-
ceived by the oystermen who caused
the trouble. "In fact" said MIR. LAW
son, ''the isle of Wight oystermen have
always been very kind and considerable
OF me aud their treatment today wasl
no more that had anticipated"
Capt Lawson. however. found that
the tongers are not going to permit
the stakes to again be put back in che
river and that the men who pulled up
those from around the beds OF Jack
Wilson, Dawson, Mench & Holloway, j.
T. Mills. Capt. Savage, Garner, wilson
Il Company, and several others. feel
that they have done nothing more than
take care Of their rights. This feature
of the controversy appears 20 Mr.
Lawson 70 be the dangerous aspect.
as the oystermen do not regard that
they have transgressed the law, not
withdrawing that the grounds in dis
pute were allotted 10 the planters by
the state Fisheries Commission.
ORGANIZATION at Work.
It was found out, as announced in
The DAILY PreSas Sunday, that the
tongers have formed the Oystermen'
Protective Association and that the
new organization is alive to the IN
terest of the tongeis. T. ]. Griffin Is
president. and M. S. Carter secretary,
of the new association. while the com
mittee 10 discuss the situation with
Capt. lawson consisted of Messrs- H.
J. Blaxom. George Foster, ID. Mount
10Y and o. G. Alien.
The committeeman gave Mr.. Law
son the closest attention and also in
formed him of what they consider the
rights of the tongers. The association
is pledged to obey all laws. but II is
also pledged to see that the planter
always obey the laws and are NOT
given a great advantage over the poor
topger The oystermen say that n
planter is now off at the springs. while
men employed by the planters are get
ting oysters from the state rocks.
Capt. Law son explained the law COW
ering the wilful taking UP of stakes
or, destroying oyster beds to the oys-
termen and told them that the laws
must be enforced
As told in The Daily Press Sunday
no arrests could be made by the state
Fisheries Commission now that the
men have left the river. but Capt Law
son said last night that the civil au-
tborities Of Isle of Wight will act in
che premises. He said the big planters
are determined to prosecute the men
guilty of tearing up their stakes
while the oystermen practically court
such proceedings. claiming that they
are not endeavoTing to hide them
selves and their acts were committed
in daylight and in the sight OF 'he
planters. whom they charge with work
ing the stoke rocks.
Don't Understand.
Capt. Lawson said las night that
wrong impression has gotten ABROAD
as TO the grounds in dispute He SAID
most Of the lands now being contested
were assigned TO the planters by the
old board of fisheries. OF which Ut
Rowden. Of Accomac county. was 'ne
chairman. He thinks the present board
and Mcdonald Lee. its chairman. have
been doing all they can for the furta-
erance Of the interest Of the tongers'
but for some reason the oystermen
have never yet been able to eomPre-
heud the good things given them by
Mr.. lee md his board
Capt. lawson does not believe no"
that further trouble will result in Isle
Of WIKI; until the planters begin piac-
- ,.ocx sbe fern IN poles when IL is