Evening star., 1947-01-30
Tuck Awaiting
Reply
In0ysterDispute
Governor Threatens
To Ignore Change in
Fishing Rights Pact
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
Gov. Tuck of Virginia today
awaited a reply from Gov. Lane to
his request that Maryland hold of
passage of a bill nullifying a CO.
year clause in the Potomac River
agreement and proposing instead
that commissions from the two
States meet to settle the contro-
versy.
The skirmishing over oystering
has reached the point of an ulti-
matum, with Virginia threatening
to ignore the impending Maryland
law and the Maryland Legislature
apparently ready to pass it, regard
less.
To back up his request, the Vir-
ginia Governor pointed to the reso-
luton setting up three-man Vir-
ginia commission which won rapid
approval by the Virginia General
Assembly in constructive session
yesterday. The commission would
meet with a. similar commission
from Maryland at Mount Vernon
March 28-the 162d anniversary of
the pact of 1785-if the Maryland
Legislature agrees.
If the Maryland General Assembly
passes the bill-already approved by
the Senate without a dissenting
vote-to allow Maryland to prose-
cute Virginia violators of fishing and
oystering laws, Gov. Tuck will re-
gard 1t as "nullity."
Won't Recognize Law.
He told Gov. Lane in his 700-word
wire advising him of the passage of
the resolution that "any attempt on
the part of Maryland without the
consent of Virginia to try Virginia
people in the courts of Maryland for
violation of the seafood laws OF the
Potomac River is a nullity, and I
shall, as Governor, so instruct our
seafaring people, until the validity
of the Maryland act is determined
by a proper tribunal.
Gov. Tuck wired Gov. Lane that
the Virginia resolution was Gin the
exact language agreed upon by us
over the telephone yesterday" and
said he would proceed to name the
Virginia members of the commission.
The Maryland Governor refused
to comment on Gov. Tuck's message.
Under the pact of 17S5, engineered
by George Washington, Maryland,
owner of the Potomac, agreed that
Virginians should have equal fish
ing rights and also equal control
over Potomac seafood legislation
The clause allowing each State tc
try its own offenders was approved
about go years ago. Marylanders
have complained that Virginia courts
are far too lenient on offenders.
Would Report by Jan. 1.
Under the Virginia resolution
commissions from the two States
would study the situation and report
to their respective Legislatures hl
next January 1. ez
" News of the pending Maryland bill
has brought much comment from
Virginia oystermen, who admit there
are violations Of the antidredgine
law, but claim the faultsis with the
law rather than with the enforce
ment. Some, like Capt. Garnet1
'Belfield, Coles Point oysterman, say
residents of Virginia have beer
blamed for illegal dredging, but thai
citizens of both States were involved
A number of Maryland boats harbol
on the Virginia side.
Capt. Belf1eld, who says that more
oysters are killed by overcrowd-
ing in beds than by dredging, de-
clared yesterday, "A man can't
make a living longing for oysters
You can tong in only 10 to 20 feet
of water. With the dredge you
can go into deeper waters and also
work during rough weather, wher
tongs are usless."
A large group of oystermen from
Northumberland, King George and
Westmoreland Counties met ano
indorsed study such as that called
for in the resolution.
Passage of Bill Predicted.
Maryland observers, meanwhile
predicted that their General AS
.sembly would pass its bill. Chair
man Edwin Warfield, jr., of the
States Tidewaters Fisheries Com
mission is a vigorous proponent OF
the measure, saying that delay as
asked by Virginia would mean that
open and fragrant violations now
taking place" would continue not
only during the rest of the pres
ent oyster season but during the
next one.
Chairman Brinsfield of the Mary
land House Committee on the Ches-
apeake and Its Tributaries, where
the bill has been held for several
days, said that his committee was
solidly in favor of reporting it and
of having it passed.