Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-03-04
RK-SURYEY OF JAMES
RIVER OYSTER BOTTOMS
(Northampton Timeal

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Northampton Times)
We present this week chart of the
James River oyster bottoms as made
from the surveys by DR.. H. F. Moore,
assistant U. s. Fish Commissioner; and
while we must trust to DR.. Moore for
its correctness, it is certainly the only
course open to settle the oyster disputes
in those waters.
Commissioner Lees explanation ac-
companying the chart is fair and reason
able. and can be comprehended by any
ordinary citizen; therefore, it should be
read with interest by every fairminded
citizen of Tidewater Virginia, and
especially by the planters and tongers
Of the Eastern Shore who are interested
IN the James river seed oysters.
There are two classes of persons en-
gagged in the oyster business in Virginia
the planter and the catcher from the
natural rocks. These forces and their
friends have been continually at war
with each other. That the former class
have encroached upon the rights of the
latter there seems to be no question, if
it were generally known that the natural
rocks in the creeks ami coves of the
State have become unknown to the
tongers of the present day. What has
become of these natural oyster bearing
bottoms We are not prepared to say,
but it is generally conceded that all the
State grounds in these creeks and coves,
suitable for the cultivation of oysters,
have been taken up by private planters,
and the tongers driven into deeper
water. This is evident in the James
river and other oyster-bearing sections
Of the state.
Be this as it may, the time has come
whep well defined system should be
adopted by the State whereby the
planter and the tonger may each know
their allotted territory, and each kept
within bounds by system such as that
proposed by Commissioner Lee. A
chart of the oyster bottoms of the State
should be in the hands of both the
tonger and the planter, so there can be
no excuse for ignorance, and at the
same time tangible evidence can be
secured against violators of the law.
There have been enlisted into this
oyster dispute men who are entirely
| gnorant of actual conditions, and they
seem to be the loudest.in crying "Stop
thief" 1t is fact that the State has
made many mistakes in the past, the
same as planters have in seeding poor
oyster lands, and each must be guided
by past experience. To adopt defined
system, of oyster protection, the State
must expect to lose some of its rocks,
except perchance the poachers on the
public domain are willing to concede
them to the State.
That the re-survey of the James river
is political deal, as we quote from the
Times Dispatch in its speaking of the
tone of the Eastern press-''The Byrd
bill is held up by some as an
Illegal. unwarranted and partizan effort
to rob the tongers of their birthright"-
comes from class of partisan news
papers that are unwilling to sanction
any effort towards the settlement of the
oyster question along just and amicable
lines. 1t is that kind of argument which
keeps the oystermen in a state of un-
rest. Not until some definite plan is
settled upon by the State will the oyster
interests of Tidewater rid itself of
'kickers." Wise men change their
minds, but fool never"
We do not pretend to say that DR..
Moore's re-survey Of the James river
oyster bottoms is absolutely correct,
nor do we hold that the old Baylor lines
take in all the natural rocks in the
State Of Virginia. Who knows where
these rocks are any better than those
who have been catching oysters from
them? Then, all this cry of "breaking
the Baylor survey" is only upon paper.
Let those who are crying the loudest
visit our seaside, the coves and creeks
of the State, and consult the tongers
and others who have been catching
oysters from natural rocks, and perhaps
they may find that the marks of the
Baylor Survey have either been de-
stroyed or the lines do not cover all the
natural rocks Of the State. Those who
are mostly interested in the natural
rocks of Virginia cannot afford to 90 to
Richmond in their own behalf: but we
will venture to say that every one of
them, to a man, desire that the rocks
be permanently located and charted. 10
that they as well as the planters, NAV
know just what they are doing when
they take oysters from the waters of
the State. That this question should be
settled now and forever is the para
mount issue, and there must be a head
to carry out this plan; there must be an
authorized body of men to make a move
in this direction, and the State Board of
Fisheries, itappears to as. are in better