Evening star., 1947-06-17
0ysterIl1en Offer
3-Point Program
OF Regulation
LegoIized Dredging
Is Proposed to
Joint Commission
By Mary Lou Werner
stor Staff Correspondent

Dy MoTy LOU werner
stor Staff Correspondent
COLONIAL BEACH, Va, June II.
Virginia oysternen outlined be-
fore the special Maryland Virginia
Legislative Study Commission yes
terday what they wanted in the way
Of regulations governing the Poto-
mac River oyster industry.
A three-point program presented
by John E. Mayo, secretary Of the
Potomac River Oystermen's Associa-
ton, called for limited legalized
dredging, stricter enforcement of
Gull laws which restrict oystermen
to catching oysters above certain
size and formation of a permanent
joint Maryland and Virginia regu-
latory commission for oyster indus
try problems.
"This is the first time oystermen
themselves have voiced their opinion
as to what kind of laws they want
ed" Mr.. Mayo pointed out to the
six-member commission which was
formed after disputes between
Maryland and Virginia oystermen
flared up over the method of taking
oysters from the Potomac River.
Controversy Outlined.
The controversy between oyster
men of the two States became acute
when Maryland passed legislation
designed to crack down on Vir-
ginianS accused of violating anti
dredge laws in the Potomac. Vir-
ginia authorities protested that
Maryland's unilateral action was a
violation of the two States Potomac
River compact, which was drafted
to give equal rights on the Potomac
to both States.
Mr.. Mayo said the Virginia oyster
men were willing to accept Mary
lands law providing for prosecution
of violators of oyster laws In Mary
land courts when they were appre-
hended by that States authorities
provided Maryland would accept
their terms as to limited dredging
and Gull laws.
In addition, Mr.. Mayo said, a
similar law should be adopted in
Virginia to handle Maryland vio-
lators of oyster laws apprehended
by Virginia authorities.
Warning Is Issued.
He emphasized, however, that in
the event Maryland attempts to ar
rest Virginia oysterman before an
agreement is reached in the issue,
he intends to appeal to the Gov
ernor of Virginia and to the State
attorney general on grounds that
Maryland would be seeking to de-
prive Virginia of its sovereign rights.
1--WE are not being irlsistent about
this to have our own way" Mr.
Mayo contended. fThese Virginia
oystermen actually are willing to
lose money in order to earn their
livings honestly"
He explained this meant the Vir-
ginia oystermen would accept a &c.
inch. 60-pound dredge Limitation if
dredging is legalized, The smaller
the dredge the less oysters can be
scooped up, he explained.
"As it is now they are dredging
anyhow with dredges as heavy as
IS pounds and A inches long," Mr..
Mayo contended. He said the oys-
termen he represents felt sure the
lighter dredges would not ruin the
oyster beds as contended by some
Maryland oystermen.
Meme Deny Dredging.
None of the nearly 200 Virginia
oystermen present at the hearing
denied they dredged for oysters.
1t was brought out during the
testimony of several Virginia OYSTER
men that they would favor a joint
oyster planting program by the two
States. All those questioned agreed
that if this were done they would
be willing to pay a fee per bushel
to finance the replanting of oyster
beds.
A number of the Virginia oyster
men contended that the Potomac
was too deep for successful tong
ing for oysters, which at present
is the only legal way of taking the
oysters from the river.
william Stanford, Colonial Beach
oyster boat captain, contended the
tongs weren't any good because they
dug up the oyster beds while
light dredge would neatly scrape
UP the oysters.
A second oysterman, James Mears,
expressed the opinion that oysters
were disappearing from the river
because too many small ones were
being taken, and not because of
dredging.
Plea Is Supported.
A spokesman for the Colonial
Beach Chamber of Commerce sup
ported the plea of the Virginia
oystermen and expressed the opin-
ion that 'if these men are not
allowed to make living We'll have
nothing here but ghost town"
The public hearing in Colonial
Beach adjourned yesterday after
noon. The commission resumed
consideration of the problem last
night in closed session in Fred
ericksburg. The closed sessions
were to continue through today.
c. O'Conor Goolrick of Freder-
icksburg, chairman of the commits
sion, presided at yesterdays hear
ing. Other commission members are
Tayloe Murphy of Warsaw, Va;
William D. Williams of Colonial
Beach, Maj. Robert Archer of Bal
timore, Fred Webb of Salisbury
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