The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-01
DEMAND FURTHER
OYSTER HEARING
Virginia Maryland Representa-
tives Resent Ban Placed
on Bivalves.
PREJUDICE CHARGED
Aroused by Great Harm Done to
Industry of Two
States.

Washington oepteuAUeE SV.-<AAoeSSu
by the harm they claim has been done
to the oyster industry of MARYLAND
and virginia by the report recently
promulgated by the Bureau Of Chemts-
try, which charged that the sewage Of
Washington and towns along the Po-
tomac was polluting the oyster beds
of the two States. representatives OF
Maryland and Virginia met in confer
ence to-day at the willard Hotel and
formulated plans to demand OF the
Secretary of Agriculture q hearing on
and further tests Of the oysters taken
from the Potomac River beds.
Maryland's representatives at the
conference to-day further charge that
prejudice has been SHOWN against
Maryland and Virginia oysters in the
Bureau Of Chemistry's report, and that
Notwithstanding the fact that Mary
land oyster captains who bring oysters
to the Washington market are fined
for having polluted oysters In their
possession. no real attempt is made
b. the government to prevent these
oysters from being placed on the mar
ket.
The Maryland men declare that there
have been a number Of cases wherein
oyster captains paid their fines and
then sold their cargoes. and that these
captains understand that the easiest
way out Of any charge Of having poll
iutei oysters in their possession Is to
pay the fine asked Of them. dispose Of
their oysters and 90 back for another
cargo.
Want State Daeterlologieae.
A sentiment against having q bacteri-
illogical expert Of the Bureau of Chem
istry participate in to-day's conference
developed as soon. as the Maryland
and Virginia men got together
Representative Thomas Parran OF
the Fifth Maryland District. had been
asked by the Governor OF Maryland TO
be present at to-day's conference, ana
to ask the Bureau OF Chemistry to de-
tail bacteriologist from the Federal
bureau to be present. which he did. but
the Maryland and Virginia men decided
that they would prefer to have any
further oyster tests made by their own
State bacteriologists.
The meeting to-day was called nv
Governor Mann. OF Virginia. and Cow
ernor Goldsborough. OF Maryland who
designated various fsh and oyster
commission officials OF the two States
to participate.
Governor Mann was aroused nv ire
recent chemistry bureau report. which
declared that Potomac River oysters
were unhealthy and should Be avoid
ed as food and after conference with
Governor Gol6sbcroueh, of MARYLAND
re instructed Mcdonnell Lee. Chairman
Of the Board Of Fisheries Of Virginia.
and William y. Saunders. the dairy
and food commissioner o. VIRGINIA. 10
represent the State At the meeting.
MARYLAND was represented by a num-
Der Of oa1ciais concerned with the
oyster business Of the State. a. wen
as individuals. led by the Attorney
General % .Ae state. Edgar Allan Poe.
Representative Thomas Parrar. Shell
fsh Commissioners Reveii. Graves ana
Aa!'hy. Oyster Poisee Fleet Command
er Y. e. n Howard. Deputy Command
er T. =. Picwden. State Senator Wiz
kerson. state Senator Lancaster, DR..
walter p. Dent. Of So. Nary's County.
Encch n. Aseil. Of 81 Mary's County.
and Charles c. Lancaster. OF WASH
.nstoH
Bvsss oyssevs sss reseAL
The MARYLAND men brought 60 wash
inR;on for test oysters from the So
called infected dissrtcts namely. the
B1skisson- Island bar. the Cobbs Point
har, the swan Point ba. and the Ian.
caster bar In the wicornicc River
These oysters were taken by com-
rsnder Howard On deep water along
the river and from the shallow water
a, ry,skissone's Island. snd Cemmaaa-
or Howard pointed QUE that % there