The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-19
SOME OYSTER "REMINISCENCES,

SOME OYSTER REAINlStENSt- il
The lawlessness on the oyster grounds OF
Maryland is deserving Of censure as 1t "ould
he elsewhere We have had somewhat similar
occurrences in Virginia, but can be thankful
that thew are things OF the past The history
AZ aIl oyster countries-C Connecticut, New York
New Jersey. ct alias BEEN more or less, the
same.
In the days Of 0Ferrall-crude days of
oyster legislation and administration here-there
was clash Of arms on our briny deep Further
back. In the primitive days Of oyster regulation
under Governor Cameron. we believe. force, ana
n,entv of 1t, was necessary 10 bring order out
OF what had. from the beginning of our history
been a cateh-as-catchcan condition. These were
the pioneer days, and It took sometimes harsh
means to bring things to reasonable and
somewhat equitable basis. Though reconstrnc
ton Of oyster affairs was rapidly coming about
& oyster officials. under Mckinney and Tyler and
MONTAGUE and as late Swanson all had their
troubles and their clashes. During these latter
administrations depredatng Marylanders were
nut over the line and put to stay. bad eggs
were nut out of business and the last conflict
which was no conflict at all, though so heralded
hy many papers-was at the beginning of Gov
ernor Maur's administration This last was the
threatened attempt TO pull stakes and depredate
upon grounds prt-enpted by certain planters IN
James river It will be recalled that, like the
Marylanders the past week. several hundred
fongera, armed with rifles and accompanied by
women and babies, put out to accomplish the
work when the police boat, fastening from
the Rappahannock arrived on the scene The
Man was to have the women pull the encroach-
ing stakes thus assuring that the work would
be done without loss of life no General
Weyler" could be expected among Virginia Off
GERS The stakes were not nolested no oyster
oeas raided. as in Maryland. and no casualties
reported Results what count The contrast
today with Maryland Is to Virginia's credit, and
no honest and patriotic citizen can gainsay It,
what matters that yirgnias done by diplo
macy parlying and assurance that the aggrieved
should have their rights, be treated fairly? The
law had defined the bounds OF common ground
and two boards Of fisheries had been promis
ang and attempting to determine those bounds
The present board, or commission, consum
mated In definite and fixed way what had beer
=
to do Unlike Maryland, whose depredators are
resisting the occupancy of the bounds allotted
by law. yrginians satisfied that planters
should have and keep the lawful bounds and only
I resisted fragrant Entertainments beyond, ever,
case being proved later by the State surveyor.
Those papers which condemned officials fol
handling a serious condition with hrmness and
diplomacy, and virtually advised the slaughter
OF women and babes, when they themselves wert
bomb-proof literally and hgurativey, can nov
compare the action Of Virginia with that II
I Maryland and honestly take pride IN their Stat
on the outcome.
They, however may not have gotten over thei
spleen and cannot recognize the fact that TO
more than three years there has been peace OF
the bosom of our deep and in the once coaseles
agitation Of the oyster question, and that th
n last legislature was the first in twenty year
u that had not line or worry on the Virginia
u oyster subject
The value Of the moral effect and the respec
for law instilied in the people gradually through
years Is an asset that Virginians should TAX
into account not to be measured ia dollars ant
cents,