Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-10-14
OYSTER CULTUREIN FRANCE

The Norfolk Ledger-Dispateh
raises the point that Virginia
might profit by lessons in oyster
economy and culture from the
French, and even from the grow
ers OF Rhode Island and Connec-
ticut. This is true, and we could
wish our people had u more ex-
tensive knowledge of how other
peoples propagate and manage
oysters. At the same time, Vir-
ginia and Maryland stand out
uniquely from all the rest of the
oyster growing world. Condi-
tions on the great Chesapeake
are far different from those any
where else. Why, right in our
own State there are two sections
OF oyster growing-the seaside
and the bay-that are entirely
foreign to each other in nature
and requirements. Methods oh
tanning on the ocean, Side would
dIsastrOusly fail when applied
inside, and vice versa: bay and
liver methods, and even the ovs-
tiers, are far different from those
OF the ocean side.
AS to the quality of the Euro
pean oyster, we have sampled
them from England to the Bay
OF Naples. Sampling was suffi-
Gent; we could not eat them.
They will gag any man from Nir-
glnla- In southern Italy they
hawk around, and relish. the mis-
cradle big black mussel that en-
cumbers our shell fish; so any
thing will 30 down with those
people. But the article from our
Norfolk contemporary will bear
reproducing here (space will not
permit publishing Mr.. Haman's
long article):
In letter to the Baltimore Sun. b.
Howard Haman discusses the cultiva-
ton OF oysters in France and the atti-
tude of the Government toward the
farmers. 1t might be well for the
State Board of Fisheries and others in
terested in the oyster industry to con-
slider the facts set forth in this interest
ing communication.
Briefly to summarize the results of
Mr.. Humans exhaustive study these
points are most prominent:
Clustering is government monopoly.
No natural beds or farming areas are
sold.
There are no leases for definite
periods.
No trusts can be created by consolida-
tions.
The natural beds may be dredged only
Tor period of two days in each year.
The republic protects it's property
with its torpedo squadron and allows no
infraction of the oyster laws.
The results of the French system ap
pear to have been extremely satisfac-
tory. The yield of oysters have been
increased and the supply has gained de-
cideiy in quality. The farmers" NAV
be dispossessed at any time and this
uncertainty regarding the tenue of their
areas makes them over-cautions to keen
within legal bounds.
AS an epicurean treat, the French
oyster is decidedly inferior to its Ches-
apeake bay relative. The Mediterranean
bivalve is insipid and the Atlantic
product has coppery taste; but econo-
mic France looks after every item which
can add to the natural wealth and thus
has made itself the leading financial
power of Europe.
Virginia owes duty to good livers
throughout the world in the matter of
protecting the oysters. Incentives to
farm or cultivate should be made and
the natural beds must be protected. |
Rhode Island and Connecticut have
created tremendous oyster Industry
largely through protective laws; and.
while the subject has not been handled
quite as scientifically or as thoroughly
as France treated it, still the shrewd
New Englanders can afford a lesson to
is. At the present time when the diff
iculties with tongers looms large il
night be well to inaugurate legislation
% govern the case.-Ledger-Dis Dispatch.