The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-23
G oTnmUnication
Editor Jcurnal:-

In all localities, except M1biack bay
aud the York river, there has b>en
great increase in the natural growth
and output of oysters. This has been
particularly SO in James river and its
Tributaries. Your Commission has al
most despaired of doing anything to
helpathe once famous and productive
but now denuded. MobJack bav. The
same is true TO a less degree. of York
river. In these two sections the Com
mission of Fisheries has lacked the
support and conference Of the people
What has been accomplished for Po-
comoke sound, the Rsppahannocl<, the
James and Other less lSnOvvu localities
could be achieved for M6bjacl and the
York. - -.t.' !
The above extract from the the late
report Of the Commissioner OF Fish
cries has received considerable adverse
comment from friends Of the section
mentioned A criticism. that is not
merited in our opinion e.> = ''-'.
II may not be pleasant 10 hear X
said hat tie rocks of the .Mobjack bay
are depleted but tios who know any
thing about these bottoms, must act
knowledge the truth of the assertion.
There must be a reason for the exis;
tance of these conditions. 1t is not
hard to find when YOU censider. chat
no rock can remain productive unless
given some time. at least, each wear
70 recupera,e. This, the rocks, of the
Mobjack never had, for a few men
(mostly negrOes) who we're supposed
to be claiming, but who. were in real.
ity catching both clans aud oysters,
We rked on them all Summary so long
as they were capable of yielding any;
thing.-Journal, March 9th .....
You go on to say that there
must be cooperation between
tongers and officials. .. This is alb
solutely necessary. Also. that
the rocks are all right capable
OF repIenishing themselves, but in
order to do so they must BE pro-
tected," etc. This is'true. The
Commission desires.to resnscitate
these bottoms, help rather than
hinder them" .-s
ii YOU will pardon tt e. seeming
egotisim. | do not think..you ever
wrote a more faithful editorial or
one more worthy of all accepta-
ton.
1t is little. or next to nothing.
to the Commission of Fisheries
to see Mobjack and. the York,
produce n abundant harvest.
/ They are hut a mite in the thirty
five hundred square miles of our
watersupervision. But the Com
mission would work night and
day to redeem any section in its
Jurisdiction if it could make two
oysters grow where one-or more
grew before. That is its am
bition. whether we be credited
with sincerity of purpose or not.
We have gotten hardened to sell
fish and political criticism.
What has made the lanes
weld to tongers such abundance
that they could this year sell at
I5cts bushel and gain good
livelihood? What has Caused
the Rappahannock to see such
prosperous times. although the
market has been low2 What mas
caused Broad Rock to support SC
boats of tongers daily where four
years ago not one. but depreda-
ting dredger. could gain liveli
hood? What has brought POGO
moke Sound from barrenness to
a condition that today affords *
20 90 dollars day, 20 a man.?
The Commission docs not ask
this credit. 1t lies with the peo-
pie who have adopted the Com
missions views and lived up to
them.
1t would be high treason in the
sight of your estimable people
Cand we commend this TO pohtil
Clans and people) to say that You
are less patriotic or less progress
i've, or too inane, to take advan
tege of disinterested advise and
help offered. We. of the Com
mission have been forced to be-
IieVe it in the past. but will not
think that 1t is to continue when
the people lay aside prejudice and
listen to reason,
want to utterly drsclaim any
e2otism self-laudation in what |
am goiEg say now. have
three years longer to serve in a
position that have ior five year,