The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-11
OYSTER BILL
NOW PENDING
NOT DESIRED
APALAcHEcoLA BOARD OF TRADE
ENTERS ITS PROTEST AGAINST
MEASURE NOW BEFORE LEets-
LATURE IN ITS PRESENT FORM.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.

"a L<\iN1b L - L he AL
Apa.achicola, May 10.--A specia
meeting of the Apalachicola Board OF
Trade was held Tuesday evening and
the following resolution was unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas, The Board of Trade OF
Apalachico1a has had under consider
alton the oyster bills now pending in
the legislature Of Florida, and known
as the Epperson and Cone bills. and
Whereas, The oyster industry is an
important one to Apalachicola and now
furnishes employment to large num-
Der Of citizens and is now one Of the
largest industries of the city, and
Whereas, Equitable and conserva-
tive legislation would aid and promote
the industry here and elsewhere in
the state, II properly formulated and
executed,
Therefore, be it resolved, by the
Board of Trade of Apaiachicola tina
we are in accord with such lesisla ton
as widl replenish the oyster beds of
Franklin county and encourage indi-
viduals to lease and plant private oys-
ter beds. While in sympathy with the
object Of both pending bills we be-
heve that they should be so amended
as to require as few executive officers
as possible; that the prime object
should be to collect a fund to replant.
and replenish the oyster reefs and
bars and that no particular section
should be Disseminated against.
Resolved further, That we believe
the pending measures should be so
amended as to provide a deputy she'll
fish commissioner for each county hav-
ing oysters IN marketable quantity
whose duty 1t shall be tc inspect oys-
tiers as to proper cu1ling, to collect
taxes as provided in the bills, to prose-
cute violations, and to superintend the
replanting of shells back on the oyster
beds
Resolved further, That II Is our
opinion that the revenue collected as
provided in both measures, after pay
ing the salary and expenses of such
deputy shellfish commissioner. should
be used In repIanting oysters in the
waters OF the county where such taxes
were collected. Without such an
amendment the resources of one county
would be taxed to build up the oyster
reefs at other distant points in the
state to the detriment and at the ex-
pense of her local oyster reefs or bars
Further, be 1t resolved, That it is
our opinion that the demand for Apa-
lachicola oysters has so increased and
shipments have increased so rapidly
for the past few years that the ques-
ton of replanting, protecting and pro-
noting the oyster beds of this county
is now an important one. The indus
try will not stand taxation without a
amount of expenditure in
replanting its bars without serious in
jury to the industry here.
I'VE therefore sincerely trust that
as suggested be made to
the bills now pending in the legisla-
ture and with such amendments we
feel that some legislation would be
wise and of vast importance to the
entire state
Upon motion duly made and ca rried.
the Hon. c. H. B. Floyd, representa-
tive OF Franklin county, was requested
to lend his best efforts to kill the Ep-
person and Cone bills now pending In
the legislature IN its present form, or
to amend same in accordance with the
above, and to endeavor to
secure all possible time so that a sub
stftute bill might be made.
W. n. PICKETT
Secretary.