The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-14


Newport News. and to provide founda-
State:
The present boundary lines are
based on tho survey OF lS92-1S94, and
their Justice has long been q matter
Oh contention, tho oystcrmen claiming
d fnat IN much I productive bottom was
omitted from the public grounds, and
the planters contendsng that a large
are OF barren bottom was included.
Inc present survey could not demon
as such bottoms, if they existed, have
peen lonE since occupied for plant.
ing purposes, but it WAS shown that
about 5s per cent. Of the present area
o. the grounds consists OF barren bot
tom, and an additional 10 per cent.
bears oysters too sparscly scattered
70 DO commercially valuable.
or the 26.40S.4 acres surveyed, hut
a,lo3 acres can BIO regarded as &C.
tuail!, productive. It was found also
I .nat IN certain places oyster planters
nave encroached on the public rocks.
ana 1T was evident that in other places
adjoining the planted beds the rocks
mac oeen depleted by ifiicia operations.
To release from the public grounds
and throw open to rental a. considerable
area area OF the barren bottom and to rec
Wy the boundary lines SO as to permit
missioner had an enabling act intro
duced In the Legislature at It's last scs-
sion To attain the ends sought 1t un-
from the pubic grounds a small por-
ton OF the productive bottom. and as
the Legislature held that this was in
cor. co;n,trare1tion Of constitutional pro-
proposed law failed Of passage
Spawn Swept Away.
Periodically. the James, as do all
headwater streams presents freshets,
mud and other phases nimical to the
Every third year or so. and some
times two years in succession. this con-
dition prevails. 1t occurred two years
ago. not only on the James. but also
OH tho Potomac. and in Maryland rivers
and the upper Chesapeake Bay. oysters
died. and spawn failed to take hold
there. hut was swept In abundanes
since the war to the lower rivers and
bay, These things are beyond the con-
troll Of man. and are far more vital to
Expectations. The output Of the lanes
this present year was much greater
than for years past, There being no
regulation as to the size OF oysters TO
be taken on the upper James. the his
tory of this river has been that boats
from other sections of the state rush
there the first few weeks of the csa-
son. clean 1t up and decamp for other
places where Gull law prevails. and
will furnish work through the re-
mainder of the season. The. past sea-
moderate influx of outside tonSers.
but they have not decampcd a s in pre-
vious years. Oysters have been found
in abundance, so much SO that last year
seed dropped to Is cents 4 bushel (from
30 cents iii preceding years.. and this
season they have been selling al 10
cents and - cents--fulfilling a
prophesy two years ago of your COM
mission that strict control of thr
waters would result in abundant Yield.
Another Year. with successful admin
River seed down as low as S cents. and
the longer making good living at
that. With such prices and abundance
me MirEin.a nlanter can hen lauE
necticut brother. This small area pro-
duces as lavishly as nature warrants.
and could be but little bettered by arti
fetal cultivation. Tho entire crop is
taken In season and dispersed by
many hands Throughout, the State--the
many, and not a favored few. deriving
small oysters, freed from the shells. TO
be taken from the seed beds of the
upper James and Potomac is in the fact
tina the oysters there does not mature,
and If not taken small would go to
waste, probab bly, destroyed by tho next
seasons freshets and mud Nature is
looked to each succeeding Year to sup
ply fresh seed crop in this little field.
The virtual asset OF the lanes, how
ever is positively too small to war
rant controversy or more attention By
the authorities than it is receiving.
Conditions in the seed regions might
be yet further alleviated e by statute
the oyster officials We're more literally
intrusted with the management OF tho
seed beds. 1t should be optional with
the authorities to close tho season there
when they deem hest. TO lease out or
declare open such grounds on such
terms judgment dictated, to re-
survey the producing rocks and declare
boundaries for the inviolable portions.
Gasolene workers should be restricted
and the depredating shoestring planter.
lacking other power TO GUST him. should
forfeit his lease upon conviction for
violating the laws. But these are mat
tiers for the Legislature, more than
Year hence, and another report from
your Commission Of Fisheries viii be
forthcoming In ample time"