The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-09

Weak Point in Oyster Industry.

The weak point in the oyster situation is that the
supply OF seed. planting oysters has been largely
depleted and the quality impaired. day spent
on James river among the tongers will demonstrate
this There is large in the oyster grounds
Of that river where the tonger is allowed to take
everything that he catch. The Gull law, so tar
as 1t relates the size OF oysters, does not apply
and oysters Of whatever size may be taken The
seed oyster area lies above the line drawn between
Deep Creek on the Warwick shore and Day 5
Point on the Isle of Wight shore of the river. 1t is
known Is Warwick Nal containing II, seq acres,
and Isle of Wight No. /, containing 725 acres,
making a total Of 1907 acres. his area used to
be most prolific, but Or. Moorcs recent survey
shows follows
Dense. 2,soI acres; scattering. 1881 acres; very
scattering S4e acres depleted, I,orl acres; barren,
7,4S5 acres
Tongers in this area now gather barely one third
as many oysters in a days labor as they gathered
several years ago Indeed, it is only within a COM
parativcly small area that they can take enough
oysters, at ruling prices. to make living wage.
As a consequence the number OF tongcrs operating
in that district is much smaller than formerly.
But that is not the worst OF it. The planters
find it difficult to buy from season to season SUI
feieht etfaity ri seed oysters 10 supply their de-
nands, and the quality is inferior. The planter
takes the seed oysters and places them in his own
beds where they are protected and left to grow and
fatten. The best oysters for this purpose the
small fry Transpanted to new and suitable
waters the little fellows develop rapidly and if the
planter purchase from time to time a bountiinl
supply OF small fry, AT a reasonable price, he can
sell his output at a reasonable price and make a
handsome profit. But If the seed oysters are large
he gains little by transplanting them to his own
beds. For example, il he purchase a bushel OF
oysters in the first stage of their development, by
TRANSFORMING and cultvating them. they will yield
several bushels in the course OF two or three years
But If he purchase bushe of seed oysters which
have already attained their full growth, all that he
gain by transplanting them is improve
ment in quality. And the quality is not good as
that Of the oyster which is taken, at birth, 50 tc
speak. and reared in waters.
few years ago Connecticut planters sent to Nir
ginia waters and purchased large quantities of idea
seed oysters. That the beginning of the Con
necticut industry but ii was good beginning ant
hence it is that Connecticut has beaten Virginia al
her game. Planters in that State now sci
lirst-class oysters at lower price. informed
than Virginia planters compete with. That i;
a question in dispute, but there is no doubt thai
Virginia waters are now lacking in a bountiful sup
ply of desirable oysters for planting purposes
The report of DIR. Moore is sufficient evidence or
that point. 1t is in view. the most seriou
phase of the oyster problem, and whatever may b.
done or left undone, Virginia should adopt sucl
measures as will increase the seed supply until i
meets the demand. And it may be added that tn,
demand will grow in proportion as the supply
grows, and the planting industry expand accord
ingly.