The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-22
Fisheries Commission Recon-
mends 1t Be Given Power to
Regulate Industry
JOINT COMMITTEE HEARS
TONGERS AND PACKERS
Former Seek Repeal Of Law
Confirming Sale Within the
State-Would Deplete Rocks.
Say Packers

THE tongers planters and packers
in this controversy seem to forget that
the State has more rights to be pro-
tected than either one of these diff
ferent parties interested in the oyster
industry" asserted Captain Alfred Won
planter. before the joint session of
the Chesapeake and It's tributaries
committee yesterday afternoon.
Captain Won Nyvenheim was lead
ing the opposition to the repeal of
the present oyster laws. which pro-
htbit the marketing of seed oysters
outside the State. o. A. Bloxom. of
Isle OF Wight, president of the Viz
ginia Oystermen's Protective Associa-
ton, led the fight for the repeal OF
the laws. opening the market, extend
ing the seed line, and extending the
open season TO include April.
Several speakers were heard on
both sides during the four hours that
the meeting continued. and when adj
iournment was taken by direction of
Chairman Rev. OF the House COM
mittee. who presided. the problem
was in the committees hands, as was
also the report and recommendations
of the State Commission of Fisheries.
which last week heard parties TO the
controversy.
Assume Hopeful Attitudes.
The tongers and some of the plant
ers feel satisfied that they have pre-
scented a strong case. and they be-
lieye the committees report will be
In their favor. Other planters and
packers. who want the law to stand
as now, ana who claim that the oyster
rock with be depleted within q short
time should the embargo be raised.
appear confident that they have won
their case. The committee itself gave
scant indication of what It's report
will be.
Tho report of the Commission OF
Fisheries, addressed to Governor Stuart
and to the General Assembly ia. in it's
nature. a compromise. and expresses
the belief that both the tongers and
planters are In a measure correct in
their contentious" The commission
submits;
AT present there Is an supply
of seed oysters. and the tonRers are
not making reasonable wages. The
present law is working a hardship upon
them In preventing a market for the
seed and Ia depressing the price--The
repeal of this law would undoubtedly
benefit the tongers greatly while the
present supply OF seed is being mar
keted. In short time. however. we
fear the seed beds would become de-
pIeted and the tongers would he con-
fronted by a worse condition than at
present exists, and the planting in
dustry would be seriously crippled"
Vest Power in Commission.
Continuing. the commission expresses
the belief that conditions complained
of by the tongers can be remedied $50
far as IL Is possible 20 remedy them
by legislation. by vesting in the Com
mission of Fisheries or some similar
body the power to cay when and under
what rules and regulations seed oys-
II should be the desire of everyone
20 see all engaged In the oyster in
dustry prosper, longer. planter and
packer, and to accord to each class
equal opportunities and proper pro-
lection. To accomplish this. in our
opinion, Is In very necessary that the
seed oyster proposition be handled by
the State as q business proposition.
farmer who has more seed Of any
kind than he desires to plant sells his
surplus. but he Is V Try careful to re-
serve sufficient for his own needs. The
state should apply this principle to
the seed oyster proposition. and when
ever there is surplus of seeds as at
present. the restriction as TO selling
should be suspended and the surplus
disposed of. but care should be taken
to see that sufficient Is Kept for the
use of the home planters and to pre-
vent the depletion OF the beds.
This proposition can be handled in
this manner only by entrusting the
Commission of Fisheries or some SINH
lar body with absolute power to regu-
late the sale of seed oysters going
out of the State, to allow II when adj
vfsable as above stated, and to stop
ii whenever there is danger OF deple-
ton
Would Extend Season.
Two propositions then are sub
mitted. The first is to permit the
Commission of Fisheries to suspend
the Gull law whenever conditions
make it advisable to do so. as at the
present time" The other In to extend
the season for taking oysters from
the natural rocks to include the month
Of April. The commission suggests
that the State lease additional bot
toms to develop the surplus seed
ana that 1t would be better to get
planters from other States to come
here and buy and plant the surplus
In virginia waters than to take the
seed to other States.
Upon the proposal that the Commits
sion OF Fisheries be given authority
TO regulate the oyster industry. Presi-
dent Bloxum. of the tongers organ
ization. would not express himself yes
terday. Captain Won Nyvenhe;n,. presi-
dent of the Packers and Planters Of
the State OF Virginia. said that he
could not speak for the organization.
For himself. as an Individual planter
lie thought the idea good one with
inc present commission.
But" he added. "who knows who
vii he on the commission In the fu-
ture, or what their views Will be. II