The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-12

acres, producing 10000 bushels OF
oysters. would be available for the
State 20 rent out
In making our survey last Sep
/ temeef we were repeatedly caught In
snare OF stakes placed by private
planters who were over the line,
said DIR. Moore The line cannot be
roliced by three times the number OF
men now employed. 1t might be pro-
perly guarded by forty men, but with
the establishment of the watch-houses
which Mr.. Lee proposes a much
smaller force would be needed"
Opposed by Mr.. Rawley.
Delegate Rawley, who had cross
examined DIR. Moore and Mr.. Lee,
arose to oppose the bill, He said he
believed both gentlemen who proceed
ed him intended to be fair. but he
represented men who took oysters
from the James river before either OF
them was born. He recited some in
teresting photographs of oysters.
II do not represent men te whom
the taking of oysters means dollars
-aHa-eents: represent men to whom
IL means bread and butter, breakfast,
dinner and supper" said MIR. Raw
ley.
II ask that this Legislature not pass
any oyster law until the matter has
Deen Investigated from the standpoint
OF the planters, tongers and the
State he continued. II would sug-
gest that YOU Investigate the commits
sioner Of fisheries while you are at 1t.
He Is "A czar in his own realm. He
mas more power than the governor
of the state. He aims to be fair, but
his overzeaiousness has run away with
his judgment"
Mr.. Lee challenged Delegate Raw
ley. The latter polished off the rough
edges of his remarks, but added,
Mr. Lees judgment is not infallible."
The delegate said the first nail in
the coffin of the oyster industry was
driven when deep-water oystering was
LOCALIZED. thus giving the packers and
planters a right to ye- nut and get
the bulk of the seed oysters. He at
tackled the packers In no mistake bic
terms, and concluded with, II you
must pass some oyster law, make the
packers get their oysters from healthy
waters and put them up in healthy
packages and conform to the pure
food laws, and keep those planters
half mile from the line"
Buoys Walk Around.
Delegate Henley called upon Cap
was born in the oyster business" to
tell of certain surveys he had made
on the James river. Captain Fitchitt
said he had gone over the Baylor
survey lines and knew about where
the boundaries are.
Are there any buoys to be seen ?"
asked Senator keezell
NO, sir" replied Captain Fitchitt.
AN oyster buoy walks around, It
is never found where it was said to
have been put
How many points are there 10 the
line now that need watch houses? 2" in
CURED the solon from Rockingham
county.
'+Twenty-two," replied Captain
Fitehitt,
Then IT would require eighteen
more houses TO maintain the line now
than 1t would to protect the line Mr..
Lee proposes establishing asked Mr..
kcezeil
Yes, SIR" said the witness
You're an expert on oysters"
Il WAS born in the business. -
"Ali right. sir; give me your name.
please" said Senator Keezell.
After giving his name and address
Captain Fitchitt was excused
1t looks as though Senator keezelI
ever on the alert To raise an addi--
tional dollar for the State treasury,
Will support the bill. and will quote
an oyster expert in his debate for Its
Mr.. keexel may point out
fcrty or more places along the line
where watch houses would be neces-
sery
The committee adjourned at so
o clock to meet again for the con-
sideration OF the oyster question next
Wednesday night at 8 o'clock.
Was Invited to Come.
Although DR.. Moore was the only
person granted the privilege of the
floor by Chairman Rev. of the House
on the Chesapeake and it's
he spoke about e-third
of the time. the remaining two thirds
being taken UP by questions, insinuat-
ing remarks and lengthy expostula-
tons by delegates.
DIR. Moore Is an earnest man and
spoke with such emphasis as to
prompt Chairman Rev TO ask him
why he had come to the meeting.
DIR, Moore showed pardonable indig-
nation at the question and appealed
to Commissioner Lee. MIR. Lee re-
piled that DR. Moore had come at
the invitation of himself. seconded
by the chairman of the Fish and
Game Committee,
If | had Not understood" said
DIR. Moore, with dignity. that was
officialiy invited ! should not have
come. I had an engagement on the
gulf coast tomorrow which | broke
in order to come here and give such
information as ! might be able. !"
Colonel John S. Harwood. of Rich
mond. promptly arose and gave Or.
Moore assurance that he was very
his urexertrp apreaa t1fe
and desirable, Other delegates spoke
to the same effect and the incident
was closed,
His Careful Work.
DR.. Moore told OF having made his
survey in such a fashion that none of
the men working with him or he
knew what would be the result until
the final compilation OF his data. He
said soundings had been made at
l0,440 places. covering 226 miles, and
that oysters were actually taken up
from coo different spots DR.. Moore
said he had been told by an engineer
who assisted In taking the Baylor
survey that In number Of instances
he was instructed to run his boat so
fast that the chain with which the
soundings were made sixteen or efgh-
Ieen eyars ago would not touch the
bottom.
Or. Moore said Captain Baylor did
not scientifically survey the oyster 2
beds, but merely guessed at what
was on the bottom and surmissed
as to what the boundaries should
Piled With Questions.
DIR. Moore was vigorously interro-
gated by number of delegates after
,e concluded his remarks the sum
and substance uf which was that