Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-08

was foremost among all
the states in permitting her enterpris-
ing citizens to create an oyster farm
ing industry. During the past ten |
years she has by unwise legislation |
taken the lead toward its destruction. \
"One of the most depressing fnfiu- |
ences has been the unjust and un-
reasonable taxation Of oyster grounds. |
Prior to 1893. the law with. refer |
ence to the taxation of the franchises
for oyster grounds, was that the
grounds should be assessed at their
fair market Value and should pay a
tax of ten mills upon this valuation.
The basis for this taxation was that
oyster farming was analogous to farm
ing on land. Both are food producing
and both depend upon the propoga-
ton and planting Of crops by the
farmer. In both crops must be har-
vested ard marketed when they arrive
at maturity, if not lost during the five
years of growth required for oysters.
When this law was enacted, it APP
peared that the average tax upon farm
landS Of the state was about ten mills
on actual market values and as oyster
farming was more hazardous than up
land farming and as the property in
volved was less protected by law than
property on land. it was considered
that ten mills was a sufficient and rea-
sonable rate of taxation. The taxa
ton of oyster grounds was analogous
to that of farms. rather than to that
OF city property, because the oyster
grounds could not partake of the ben
efts of taxation such as are derived
by city properiy-they need no fire
protection; no sewers or public works
of any kind; nc lamps! no building de-
partment; no educational expense,
parks. street pavements, sidewalks
pavements. etc. All these items fur
nish reasons for the additional taxes
which III many cities amount to 20
mills intead of ten mills, as upon
farms in the country.
In 1898 it was called to the atten-
ton of the legislature that the oyster
grounds situated from one to four
miles from land, in the open waters
or Long Island sound, were of neces-
sity more subject to depreciation than
any property on land, because the
navigable waters are q lawful high
way which is travelled by every kind
of boat and vessel by night and by
day.
after long discussion in the gen.
eral assembly, it was enacted that five
mills additional should be colleced in
taxes upon the oyster grounds and the
shell fish commissioners were author
lied to expend this amount in oyster
police for the protection of the
oysters on these exposed grounds.
THE shell fish commission, whose
personnel had been changed after the
investigation of 1888. called aconsul-
tation of oyster growers of the state,
and methods were devised for the ex-
penditure of this additional tax in
such ways as seemed to the oyster
growers and to the commissioners
best adapted to protect these proper
ties.
/ "Misled by incorrect information,
the legislatures during the past four
years, have added one hardship after
another in the treatment of the oys-
| ter farmers.
while the law permits the assess
ment Of oyster grounds at their mar
ket value, they have been made in
fact, 10 and 20 times as much as they
were 10 years ago. Oyster grounds
that have been assessed at $1,000 have
been publicly offered for sale for $500
Or even $3.50.
THE oyster farmers have been
wrongly deprived of many thousands
of acres of lands under forms of law,
so high that the owners were COM
PEELED to give up their lands rather
than pay the eXorbitant taxes. These
lands were bought for each from the
state. and taxes were paid upon them
for 80 years. but they were practically
robbed from their owners.
1.-THE same official who in 1908 as
sessed a piece of ground at between
| 81, 900 and $4,000, assessed 1t in 1914
| for SIPS, 93S, more than IA times what
| he had assessed it at in 1908, and the
| rule of assessment according to law on
| both of those dates, was the fair
| both of those dates, was the fair
! market value"
This is only one illustration of many
| hundreds in which oppressive injus-
| tice was inflicted upon the oyster in
| dustry But not only was the law vio-
| lated with reference to assessment,
| but the rate Of taxation has been
| doubled so that 1t Is now 20 mills on
| the dollar of valuation, and oyster
grounds three miles from land that can
enjoy mono of the protection or bene-
fits of the city government, as re-
| quired to pay a revenue at the same
| rate as real estatea in the centre of a
| pcpu' : tts city,