The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-11
Virginia Holds First
Place in the Oyster Industry
By W. MCDONALD LEE Commissioner Of Fisheries

Fisheries.
listing of the greater nets {purse nets) shows
this: Those used for kiue nsh. deep sea food
nshing and sturgeon nets-all more or less free
hooters" and hard to keep count of-easiiy cor
rallied { half million dollars Of the fnny tribe;
while the menhaden fertilizer indniry. with their
giant purse nets. took In million and half dol
lars worth OF the raw product. To the she'll
nsh output 1T should not be forgotten to add mil
Hon and half dollars. or more. received for
Gratis and CLAIMS. In all. making a grand total
OF between ten and twelve millions of dollars, re-
ceived the past twelve months by our citizens
from the fish and oyster industries OF virginia
The last named figure does overshoot the mark.
The possibilities of virginias natural water re
sources almost staggering to contemplate
When once have entirely gotten out of the ruts.
become more Industrious as individuals more
studious and patriotic In advancing development,
and less censorious of efforts made to pull out OF
the ruts. Virginia alone will be able to discount
q combination OF half the Atlantic coast States.
There LIS the greatest of promise for our future,
and 1t will come In due time. Oyster rocks cannot
be rehabiIItated In one year. two, nor old habits
Of . generation eradicated In q short time. but
yirginia's lawmakers as well her Tidewater
citizens have come recently into letter way of
thinking and q new order OF things: the future
is bright
From census of the persons engaged in
fsh and oyster vocations 1t will be readily seen
that this vast industry supports other branches Of
enterprises and feeds many mouths. The wealth
Of property interests ashore created and supported
by i. return much revenue to the State in the way
of land and personal property taxation far en-
Gee ing the cirect tar aecrung from the pursuit.
While the direct tar returns will average two dol
lars for every expended by the State in fos-
tering and administering the industry. 1t is mere
bagatelle to the indirect taxation and revenue de-
rived from dependencies and physical improve
menss created and sustained by the fisheries OF
Tidewater Virginia.
Here Is the census of the number OF people
j ear fish and osstar industries support airectly:
Ten thousand tongers i60 per cent Of them whitel.
aided by an equal number of helpers: over two
thousand dIedgers and helpers: three thousand
GRADERS and helpers; three thousand clammers:
four thousand net fishers: eight thousand workers
on planting ground; three to four thousand oyster
shuckers. These with the menhaden fishers, bring
the total OF active workers to about ffty thou
sand persona And this takes NO account Of thou
sands ret who Rsh. crab oyster for short periods
or for Immediate home consumption. In this con-
nection II il interesting to note that Accomack
county alone furnishes sesenty-ve per cent Of the
soft crabs consumed In the United States. Fully
eighty per cent Of the consumption Is shipped from
the town Of Crisfeld. Maryland Just across the
State line from Accomack. sa
-
The number Of our citizens indirectly dependent
Though not Wholly upon our fsh and oyster en-