The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-08

did these people deny this great privi-
leSe? Where did they get the author
ity to grant or TO deny privileges to
the commission What privileges did
the people of Pocomo!te the James
and other parts grant2 What has this
commission dono, at any time and any
where. to increase the quantity OF
oysters upon the natural beds OF this
state? What could 1t do? Absolutely
nothing except to enforce tho laws.
10 prevent unlawful depredations upon
the natural beds at NIL times, both
during the close and open seasons: to
enforce tho Gull laws during the open
seasons. and, OF course, to collect the
revenues In order to do this. the
Legislature vested the commission
with. l may say, unlimited powers.
putting in its hands $4,000 OF the pso-
PIES money annually. carte-blanch, to
purchase or hire steamers, motor or
sail boats and their crews to appoint
inspectors and deputies special police,
and what not. II. therefore, the necss-
sary inspectors police. etc. for the
York and Mobjack have not been pro-
vided. or II Incompetent or inenicient
men have been appointed II for any
reason the laws have not been on
forced In these two sections whose
fault is It? Certainly not the fault
OF the people other than thu law
breakers. And surely they havo no
privileges to withhold from officers OF
the law. It's no new thing for many
OF the oystermen OF York River and
tho Mobiack 10 go to the James and
other places to work during n part or
all OF the oyster season. They have
been doing so every season.. to my
because they could make more mon.y
by 1t. So far this season fewer have
gone from the York than In any season
that ! now remember. not because
there has been any increase In the
catch in the York. but because OF tho
reduced catch in other places and the
greatly reduced prices; they could not
make enough money TO pay them FOR
| leaving home. You also state that tho
Commission of Fisheries Is still COM
planning of not being able to properly
police James River on account OF Zig
gag lines" I take 1t that this means
we ara to have tho Same old fight he
fore tho Legislature to enable certain
PEOPLE TO gobble UP the natural rocks
of the James-by far the best rocks
In the whole State. At the risk OF
J being considered very Dresnmptuous. I
venture TO suggest n very plain. Sim
pie, easy and efficient remedy. one that
will not only make policing cheap and
easy: but Will put an end to this bien-
| Mai squabble and will put the oyster
Industry OF the whole State on such a
boom as was never known In the his
tory OF the industry before. Lot tho
| Legislature establish a line from New
| port News to some point on the oppo-
| site side OF the James-say, Pig Point
| declare the whole river above this
| line natural rock bed OF shoal Is fast
as tho present leases of the planting
grounds, which are all or nearly all
in reality natural rocks. expire. pull
up the stakes and turn out to the pub
| lie. Take a few thousands OF the dol
| lars saved in tho costs OF policing and
| shell such OF tho rock. both public and
| private. as may be found to be too
much denuded OF clutch to recupera te
/ within a year or two after being
| rested. With judicious management
afterwards. within ten years the oyster
supply of Virginia Will be ample and
sufficient.
II the Commission OF Fisheries would
bring this about 1t will indeed have
| accomplished something worth while
something very much more than draws
| ing most lucrative salaries and having
g. good time generally.
CHARLES CATLETT.
| T,rtdnAu