Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-16
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER is. 1919
GRATIFYING AND MYsr,FYINe.


Last winter we were told that the
natural oyster rocks In Virginia wa
ters we're depleted and that the
States oyster industry was on the
way TO the dcmnition bow-wows, II II
had not already arrived We were
assured that unless the Baylor sur
vey lines were Strengthened so as TO
facilitate the work OF the police boats
and make possible the establishment
OF warehouses; at certain points. the
beds in James river literally would
be carried away and there would, In
the course of few years, be no
oyster industry In the State except
that carried on by private planters.
who would be obliged to buy their
seed from the outside. All OF these
things were told the public generally
and the members OF the general as
sembly particularly. in support OK
bill designed to straighten the lines
supposed to mark the natural oyster
rock in James river. leaving outside
considerable portions OF the rock.
There was a hard fight over the meas
ure. the Tidewater representatives in
the assembly. and most OF the Tide
water newspapers. objecting strongly
10 u and urging that its Passage
would constitute violation of the
State constitution. which says that
the natural oyster rock shall not be
rented Oh leased. but shall be held in
trust for the use of the people OF the
State The bill was not passed.
Now. in the middle of the oyster
season. we learn that the supply OF
oysters on the natural rocks is bet
ter this year than il has been before
IN twenty years The bi-valyes are
on the rocks in the greatest plenty,
and the quality is as fine as the guam
t.ty is large. At the meeting OF the
State Fisheries Commission yester-
DAY il was stated. actually. that the
splendid supply of oysters to be found
on the natural rocks has lured plant
crs away from their private grounds.
which rre left idle while the planters
sc; their stock from the public beds.
All of this is very gratifying. even
Though 1, is very mystifying. We
can't explain how it happens that we
are having such an astoundingiy sue
ocssful season when the experts told
ms our bt DIS were about exhausted and
could not be rehabilita;ed unless that
bin passed the legislature. We Sc?
pose Providence has been particular
" good to us and the pirates" were
kept oil the rocks during the sum
mer. partially by Commissioner Lee:
police Loats and partially by the be
lief that there was nothing on the
beds worth going after. And We sr'
quite sure that the experts who
warned the legislature exaggerated
conditions slightly. 20 say the least
In their zeal In behalf OF tha
STRENGTHENING bill.
II was suggested at the meeting o
the commission yesterday that the dc
scr.lon Of private beds in favor o
the natural rock would 50 reduce tn
revenues Of the State that II woul'
- necessary TO increase the iicens
tax on songers in order TO make u
the dcAcirncy. This paper Is not In
formed as to the amoant OF the J
crnse imposed upon tongcrs. snd
therefore. Is not competent to e,
press an opinion IS 10 the Justice o
injustice o. the proposed increas,
However. Ne warn the commits 10
thar Il had better proceed slowly
THIS matter. A proposal 70 incrcas
the license viii Re met with a stor'
Of dixspprovai from Tidcwsicr. unics
the commission Is armed with uBsi
s~orasle reasons for advocating N
change.