Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-11-04
FISH AND oYsTEp NOTES.

and inspectors are authorized to levy
on any property Of the delinquents for
taxes due the State, with per cent
added.
Steamer Couibourn. of the Carriers
Creek Works, was last week chartered
TO Capt. j. F. Busseils TO add to his
menhsden feet on the Carolina coast
1t is learned that Capt. Bussells is
making tremendous catcheg of bunkers
this fall. His works are in close toucl,
with the spring and fall run.
Dredging season for the Chesapeak.
bay opened in Maryland and Virginia
on Tuesday of this week, to last until
April LIST. next. A feet of thousand
boats which had been working in the
Potomac for two weeks left for the
fresh rocks Of the Chesapeake.
Thenatural rocks in Connecticut were
opened on September 18th, but The oys
termen are blue over the catch. The
Courier Journal" of New Haven,
laments the poor oyster set in that
State. They will be compelled to use
smaller grade of oysters for the market.
The State Health Department, whose
officials recently have made a careful
examination of the oyster beds in Vir-
ginia. is prepared Co announce that the
Old Dominion molusks are in prime con-
dition-that is. they may be eaten with
absolute impunity by all whose appe-
tites crave bivalvular diet.
The fish in Tippecsnoe lake, Indiana,
are dying by the thousands. Dead fresh
water herring are said to line the banks.
1t was thought first that the garfish
were killing them, but an investigation
disclosed they are starving to death.
Six years ago the State Fish and Game
commissioner stopped netting and the
herring have multiplied so rapidly that
the lake is now literally alive with them.
Their food supply is exhausted.
There was quite n stir here among
the oystermen of the Potomac river
| caused by report to the effect that
the oysters were infected with typhoid
fever germs. This report caused a big
slump in the Washington markets.
which threw thousands Of bushels of
oysters back on the oystermen's hands.
To investigate this report, Commits
sioner of Fisheries, w. Mcdonald Lee,
on his boat Commodore Maury, was
here Monday and Wednesday. DR.
Freeman, of the State Board of Health.
accompanied him here. where they
were joined by DR.. George Stiles,
meteorological Chemist of the u. S.
Department of Agriculture. Numer
Gus samples of oysters from various
parts of the Potomac were taken by
them for examination by experts. 1t
is hoped and believed that they will
stand the pure food test.-Colonial
Beach letter in Fredericksburg Journal.
OYSTER QUITE WELL.
tRichmoud Times Dispatchl
| Mr.. Virginia Oyster is in excellent
health, so far as the inspections con-
Quoted by the State Health Depart
ment have revealed. General condi-
tions in the oyster field have proven
satisfactory. and while the bacteriolo-
gical examinations have not been COM
pleted, the department feels that any
one may with impunity devour as MANY
Of the Virginia bivalves as his insides
and his pocketbook may stand for.
Assistant Health Commissioner A. w.
Freeman. with two assistants. has been
busy with this work for some days. In
nearly every instance the sanitary re-
quirements of the department are COM
piled with by the planters, tongers and
packers, and little can be found which
admits Of criticism.
DR.. Freeman. who spent Sunday at
his home here, returned to the oyster
grounds yesterday.
focoMokE oYsTERMEN PAIRING WELL.
EDITOR CITIzEN:-I thought it well |
for me to drop you few lines to inform
you Of the oyster conditions in Poconoke
Sound. In the first place. l will say we |
have fine stock OF oysters, and the
catch splendid. The catch has been
from fifty to one hundred bushels to the
boat day with two tongers and Gull |
boy-snd stock culled to the law, three
inches. The first of the season thew
only brought twenty-five and thirty
cents per bushel. Now they are bring
ing from forty to fifty cents. In due
credit to the oystermen on Pocomoke
Sound, think, as whole, they are try
ing to comply with the law, the best / |
have ever seen class of people do.
There have been times this season in
which / have boarded and overhauled
the oysters Of over three hundred boats
IN one day. and found all culled to the
law. They are more than pleased with
the results SO far. There are boats that
have sold for SIS to over 500 per
week. The oystermen say they are
long better, making more money than
hey ever did in their lives. Don't that
peak well for old Pocomoke Sound.
hat was four years ago almost depict
ID of oysters? Our boys call it al
'Klondike. am glad to see it so
,ood, for several reasons.
]. r. BREWER.