The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-19
Many Hear Virginia Fish Com
missioner's Story of Work In
This his State efmed " EEilo-
quent Address"
Speech Made In Interests of
Fight Against Legislative
Bill Killing Maryland Oyster
Culture-Protest Made to
House.

BALTIMORE, MD. February IS
A large crowd Of Baltimore men took
advantage Of the excursions. and the
concessions of the house OF delegates
of Maryland this morning, and made
the trip TO Annapolis to enter their
protest against the passage by the
legislature of the Anderson bill for
the killing Of the oyster culture in
this State. In the delegation. which
made the trip there were many
business men, several Of whom made
speeches before the general assem-
bly, during the hour, in the CHAMBER
Of the house, which had been allotted
them.
In telling of the meeting the Balti-
more American today says:
Hundreds OF business men gath
cred ar the City club yesterday AFTER
noon to protest against the passage of
this bill. Officers and members of all
the business associations of the city
were there In force and an enthu-
siasm was displayed which indicates
a big crowd to visit Annapolis this
morning to protest directly to thu
members of the house that at noon is
10 take mp as special order the re-
port Of the Chesapeake Bay COM
mittee In favor of the death OF oys-
ter planting in the State.
"Oratory ranging from impressive
eloquence to statistical studies con-
sumed the hour at the City club yes
terday Probably the most eloquent
and valuable address was made by
Mr.. w. Mcdonald Lee. fish COM
missioner of Virginia. under whose
administration oyster legislation in
Virginia has reached a practical fl
nality.
Under the administration of wise
laws Nirginia's output has grown from
a negligible quantity to 100000
bushels ana increases every year. both
| in quantity and value. Mr.. Lee point
ed with pride fully justified as to
what has been done in his State and
said that all that Maryland needed
was TO transplant bodily the laws Of
Virginia.
Virginia Experience.
"Reciting that his State had been
| through all the troubles that now
harass Maryland and outlining briefly
legislation that had perfected Yir-
ginia's code, MIR. Lee placed especial
stress on the fact amply demon
/ strated in Virginia. that the interests
/ of the planter and natural bar oys-
! termen were identical. and that two
! thirds Of the planters Of his State
were natural bar oystermen. SO Won
/ derful has been the change In Vir
! einia that planter and oystermen, like
! the lion and the lamb of fable. now
HE down together in perfect accord.
said Mr.. Lee.
with frankness Mr. Lee admitted
that Maryland has natural advantages
over Virginia. He enumerated three
better markets. better bottom in
/ the Chesapeake bay. and less damage
I! from storms. If these could be taken
advantage OF Maryland would lead
the world. Words from Mr.. Lee are
as those from an oracle.
! at was at the conclusion OF Mr..
/ Torsch's address that Mr.. Lee was in
troduced He made an impression.
with his hearers at the outset. first,
! by his candor when he said that he
could not give any advice about the
| Hannah law the Price-Campbell amend
ment or the Anderson substitute be-
cause he knew nothing about any of
them; and then by his frankness about
! has own States disparity as compared
with Maryland's possibility In the oys-
ter industry. regardless or the fact
that Virginia is now far In advance
fof this state in the output OF oysters.
pleasing in manner, clear in argu-
ment conservative in his differences OF
Iopinion with the anti-pianters, Mr.. Lee
proved To be the man of the hour TO
represent the sentiment of Maryland $
business men. At the end of his ad-
dress. in which interest was at no
time on the wane number of those
most vitality interested in the retention
of the Haman law, crowded around
him. After much persuasion he was
prevailed upon to stay in Baltimore
lover night and to 30 before the legis-
llature today to argue In behalf of oys-
ter planting and culture. de did this
/ with the assurance that he would be
Table to get back to Richmond tonight,
/ x,r,ll T. RI b. 1atvtSjn n
! there on measure affecting the oys-
\ ter industry In Virginia.
n virginia Had Fight.
"For twenty years. he said yes
terday, we had just such fight as
\ you are having now. The enmity be-
l tween the planters and the tongers is
nothing new. But the survey which
we made twenty years ago, although
1 not perfect at the start, stands until
Today. After we got the bill through
six months were allowed in which the
longe could appeal to the courts 10
! reclaim natural rock. Since then We
/ have leased $4,000 acres of planting
1 ground and we still have 10000 acres
4 that we should like to lease. There
are not enough people in Virginia to
|ttake care of our oyster industry, and
we are producing 100000 bushels a
II year now.
1.-The board of fisheries act in yir-
u sinsa MAS passed sixteen-y ears-agn-
\ Five members were provided for in the
1 act: two from the tidewater counties
and three from the upstate counties.
That board has since turned into the
1 state treasury enough money to pay
for the oyster navy, the policing OF the
oyster grounds and all the equipment.
Il We have paid back two dollars for
4 every one that was spent on oyster
Z culture. We have put the oyster and
fish Industries in Virginia ahead of
those in Massachusetts. with its cod
land mackerel, and head Of Washing
ton, with all it's, salmon.
".In Virginia these same Industries
were q miserable failure when they