Evening star., 1948-12-13
Legislators Map
Plan for SettIinq
Oyster Dispute.
Two-Stote Delegates
Meet on Proposal
To Amend 1885 Pact
By J. L. MiehoeI
Special Correspondent of The Star

cpscIhl correspondent OF The star
TAPPAHANNoCK, Va, Dec. IS.
The framework of a plan to settle
he Potomac River oyster dispute is
,eing fitted together today by leg
slators from Tidewater counties Of
Maryland and Virginia, who met
lere yesterday.
Tentative at present, the pro-
oosals are to be put in final form
or consideration by the Maryland
legislature in January. The vir.
yinia Legislature does not convene
n regular session until 1850.
The plan would require amend-
nent Of the Compact of 17s5, which
gave Virginia equal fishing rights
m the Potomac in exchange for
;oll-free passage of Maryland ves-
sells past the Virginia Capes.
One section of the plari-limita.
ion provisions-would require rati.
1cation by Congress.
Basic Premise of Plan.
Its basic premise is that Potomac
River conservation problems be di-
vorced from those of Chesapeake
Bay or other waters and that ques-
lions affecting oysters and fin fish
n the Potomac be considered sep.
arately from similar problems else
where.
Other points are:
!. That joint commission, with
broad regulatory powers, be set up
Tor the Potomac River alone. This
would consist of five members, one
TO be appointed by the Governor Of
each State, and one to be named by
The two Governors jointly. If they
fail to agree, the appointment would
be made by the President. The
other two members would be the
,hairmen of the Fisheries Commits
sion of each State. Salaries OF MEM
oers would be paid from license fees
and a tax on oysters taken from the
river.
2. Strict enforcement of the oyster
Gull law, with the law made applic-
able to buyers and private planters
as well as to oystermen.
ITO Outlaw Patent" Tongs.
3. The use Of patent" oyster
longs would be outlawed.
4. Dredging in the Potomac with
light dredges would be legalized.
The dredges could be no more than
30 inches wide. This provision is
contingent on finding a way to limit
the number of oysters taken from
the bottoms.
Dredging in the Potomac is per-
mitted under Virginia statutes, but
is prohibited by Maryland law. The
Virginia law, is not in effect because
the compact Of 1785 requires thaA
conservation measures affecting the
Potomac must have concurrence Of
the Legislatures of both States.
Aggravating the situation Is an
act passed by the Maryland AS
sembly in 1947 providing that per-
sons charged with conservation law
violations in the Potomac may be
tried In Maryland courts, regardless
OF residence. Under the compact
offenders are given the right of trial
IN courts of the State in which they
live.
The 1947 act also gives Maryland
the right to confiscate boats and
Of convicted violators.
Present at Meeting.
Appearing for Virginia at the
were Delegates w. Tayloe
Murphy Of Warsaw, who represents
Richmond and Lancaster Counties.
and Charles F. Unruh of Kinsale.
representing King George, North
umberland and Westmoreland
Counties.
Mr.. Murphy, a fopner Virginia
State treasurer, also is treasurer of
the Democratic State Central Com
mittee. He Is a member of the Bi.
State Study Commission.
State Senator Robert o. Norris,
who represents King George, West.
Northumberland, Lam.
caster and Richmond Counties,
planned to attend the meeting, but
was called out of the State unex-
pectedly. Mr.. Murphy said he felt
certain that Senator Norris would
back the plan.
From Maryland were State Sena-
tors James B. Monroe Of Charles
County and Paul J. Bailey, st.
Marys County, and Delegates r.
Vernon Cooksey and j. Franklin
Winkler, both Of Charles.
Unrestricted Dredging Charged.
Also taking an active part in the
discussions was John e. Mayo,
executive secretary of the Potomac
River Oystermen's Association. This
organization draws 1t membership
Of 300 from a 60-mile stretch of the
Virginia shore.
Mr.. Cooksey charged there is "un-
restricted dredging in the Potomac
despite the presence of Maryland
patrol boats. The conferees said
they had received reliable reports
that signal systems are employed to
warn dr-dgers of tie approach of
patrol boats.
On the Virginia side, Mr.. Mayo
said about IA dredge boats are op-
Grating from Colonial Beach. In
the 1946-47 seasons, there were 90
to $50, all making good harls.
The decrease in the catch, MIR.
Mayo said. has seriously affected the
economy of Colonial Beach and the
adjacent area and has caused hard
ship for oystermen and their famil-
les IN the countries bordering the
river.
Senator Monroe. who spoke first,
submitted the plan substantially as
It was agreed on. He explained
That the Maryland delegation had
,ome to Virginia with the idea of
doing something to improve the
present. intolerable conditions"
I'VE know Marylanders are dred-
ting as well as Virginians," he said.
We hope to, remove the cause Of
he recurring shooting wars We
ire Of the opinion we will never get
anywhere until Potomac problems
ire divorced from those of Chesa-
,eake Bay