Peninsula Enterprise, November 25, 1893

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

Capt. John R. Thomas was appointed by the Board of the Chesapeake and its Tributaries, at Richmond, last Thursday, as commander of the police oyster schooner Pocomoke, in place of Capt. John S. Gaskins, who tendered his resignation some weeks ago, to take effect December 1st.

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Natural resources -- Conservation - Game

A meeting of the Eastern Shore Game Protective Association, by authority of it president, will be held at Accomac C. H., next Monday, court-day. All of the old members and all others interested in the preservation of game in Accomac and Northampton counties, are invited to be present.

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Transportation -- Railroad - Corporate

The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad was pronounced to be in excellent condition at the late annual inspection.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Bayside

Thomas W. Russell, member-elect of the House of Delegates, has been in Richmond during the week, for the purpose of appearing before the Board of the Chesapeake and its Tributaries, which met for the election of a successor to Capt. Gaskins, of the oyster police force.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideTransportation -- Water - FreightWeather -- Northeast stormsTransportation -- Water - StrandingsForests -- Shipping : WaterTransportation -- Railroad - CorporateProfessionals -- Mariners

Chincoteague.

Capt. William L. Risley arrived here last week from Pleasantville, N. J., to remain during the winter, for the purpose of buying and shipping oysters.

Schooner Thomas Thomas was loaded here this week with oysters for Fair Haven, Conn.

The schooner Elliott, which went ashore in a gale during the night of the 16th inst., on Scott Beach, floated on the rise of the tide and running back to Tom's Cove, was towed in by Bunting & Son's steamer, with the loss only of her sails and a part of a deck load of wood. She was on her way to Philadelphia, from this place and was owned by W. R. English, of that city.

The principal officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad made us a business visit this week, viz: President, vice-president, general manager, general superintendent, division superintendent. Mr. Pusey, of Pusey & Jones, shipbuilders of Wilmington, Del., and other gentlemen of importance accompanied them.

Capt. J. B. Whealton and friends have bought a controlling interest in the three masted schooner, J. W. Foster, of 1,600 tons, now loaded with machinery at Philadelphia for Rio Janeiro. She will sail next week with Capt. Whealton in charge of her, accompanied by his family. His brother, Daniel T. Whealton, as commander of the 300 ton schooner, Frank S. Hall, will sail soon from Philadelphia to some point, South, and George Whealton succeeds his brother John as captain of schooner James E. Kelsey, the largest schooner from this place, now loaded with a cargo at Atlantic City, N. J., for North Carolina. All of them are citizens of this place and deserve the promotions which have fallen to them as rewards of merit.

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Infrastructure -- Public : SchoolsTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Horse racingTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders

Onancock.

The number of students in the Margaret Academy is steadily increasing and will probably reach one hundred and fifty before the second term begins.

Harry, owned by W. T. Bundick, of this town, in the races at Bull's track last Wednesday, for fun and not for revenue, beat the "flyer" matched against him, making the whole mile in the lead, without a skip.

Wise Council, Royal Arcanum, is increasing in membership, notwithstanding the fact that several of its members have recently gone to other parts and one, Nathaniel Beloate, has died. This Council paid to Mrs. Beloate, widow of the deceased member, $3,000, that being the amount of his policy.

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - ResortsInfrastructure -- Commercial - HotelsSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PackingMoral -- Alcohol

Wachapreague.

Several members of Accomac and Old Dominion Gunning Clubs have lately passed through our town en route to their respective club houses. The shooting promises to be good.

Mr. N. J. W. LeCato, of New York, is now in town, and it is announced, that he will soon occupy the hotel here. The building is to be renovated, newly furnished and supplied with a bowling alley, billiard tables, &c., and opened up as a Summer and Winter resort.

The oyster shucking establishment of Capt. N. B. Rich & Co., is now in full blast, and is already brightening up the prospects of our oystermen.

At a late called meeting of the old Independent Order of Temperance, it was decided by the remaining members, to divide the fund yet remaining in the treasury equally between the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches of this place.

Virginia's Oyster Interests -- Captain Baylor's Report.

Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : LegislationSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Surveying

Although the new oyster law has only been enforced during part of the fiscal year, and was not approved until February 25, 1893, the State has already realized from her oyster revenues under the new act $32,765.98, while for the whole fiscal year of 1892 she only realized $15,186.04 from the same source. All the State officials are greatly encouraged by this good showing. Captain Baylor, the United States engineer detailed to survey out natural oyster beds under the act approved February 29, 1893, has his report to the Government almost ready. Captain Baylor believes that, now that this survey is completed with the exception of the natural oyster beds of the Atlantic coast side of Accomac and Northampton counties, the Virginia oyster-planting interests will rapidly improve, as did those of Connecticut after the completion of the survey of her natural oyster beds in 1882. The natural oyster area of the State will contain, Captain Baylor says, about 160,000 acres. This great area will be secured to the tongman. The planter can now no longer move his stakes out on a natural oyster rock without the fact being easily established that he has done so from the field notes of this survey, and without trial by judge and jury.

A large oyster area still remains -- at least 600,000 acres when Chesapeake bay proper is included -- which can now be safely rented by the planter without the slightest fear of his being dispossessed after an expenditure of labor, time and money. This survey should settle to rented grounds.

Captain Baylor in the report will strongly recommend, in order that there may be no question as to the finality of this survey, that the act under which it was executed should be amended so as to omit the words, "provided if any natural rock, bed or shoal is left out of these surveys, they shall be subject to the general oyster law of the State." Captain Baylor thinks, now that the State is deriving a larger revenue from her oyster interests it is due to those of her citizens who live in the oyster region that they should have adequate protection from both foreign and native oyster thieves. This can only be accomplished by the purchase of a number of fast and efficient steam launches, properly armed and equipped, of light draught and thoroughly seaworthy. He has drawings of such launches, and says that they may be purchased for less than $5,000 apiece.