Peninsula Enterprise, February 28, 1891

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation

EDITOR ENTERPRISE:

Being pecuniary and sincerely interested, in the welfare and perpetuation of the great oyster industry of our State, a practical oysterman for fourteen years as master and owner of dredging vessels, and seeing the necessity that the present oyster law of our State be so amended, as to prevent the threatened annihilation of the greatest natural industry we possess, I am prompted to express my views on the all-important subject through the columns of your paper.

Eight years ago, before so many vessels were engaged in dredging, we had a superabundance of oysters and I could catch as many in a single boat then, as I can now with four vessels of the same size, with all the latest improvements in dredges and winders.

The cause of the depletion of our oyster rocks, in my judgement, from the experiences and observation, is due to the fact, that small oysters are not protected by law; the season for dredging 5 and a half months is entirely too long, for both the oyster and the boatmen that dredge them.

I would suggest that the law which makes the season, to run from October 15th to April 1st, be so amended as to be from October 15th to February 1st. Supposing the catch of oysters under the present law, from February 1st to April 1st, to be 200,000 bushels, by the amendment to the law, we would save this 200,000 bushels together with the growth and increase for the following season, and this law enforced from year to year, the supply would be so enormous, that it would be an impossibility to make them scarce much less deplete the beds.

It is a well known fact, that oysters during the months of February and March, are in a weak condition, supposed to be due to the state of the atmosphere and water at this season of the year; being generally poor during these months, and easily killed by the dredge, they require profound rest, but during other months the dredge is an advantage, cultivating the rocks so the oyster may grow. It may be news to some readers but nevertheless true, that oysters are much stronger in the months of April and May, than in February, and will live longer out of the water, notwithstanding the atmosphere and water are much warmer, and for this reason they should be allowed undisturbed repose from February 1st, to October 15th, following.

The average dredging boat does not realize any profit from his work during February and March, owing in part to the depressed condition of the raw oyster market; the improbability of steam packing houses in Baltimore, working during these (to be expected) frozen months of the year, causing the oysters to be sold far below the cost to catch them; to the many dead ones that are always found in the cargoes during these months, and the accumulation of a "glut" upon an inactive market, thereby causing detriment to the tonging industry, by glutting the market and reducing their labors to an expensive hardship.

We have now about four times the boats in the dredging business we had eight years ago and supposing there are as many oysters now, as then, the quantity would be one-fourth to each boat, which would make the "loaf smaller"; but we are confronted not only by the increase of boats, but by the depletion of the oyster supply as well and if we do not protect this industry in time, and that is at the next session of our legislature, boat property must rapidly depreciate and our landed interests supported by the products of the oyster rocks will go to destruction and destitution will overshadow the homes of a once independent people.

I would suggest the only known remedy given to the people of knowledge and forethought, engaged in the oyster business, to perpetuate and vastly increase the quantity of oysters in our waters, and that is a strict culling law, in keeping with the oyster law of Maryland; inasmuch as we are sister States, catching our oysters as it were in the same waters, disposing of them in the same markets and everyway interested with them in measure and quality, our interests are identical from the rocks to the packing house.

With a strict culling law, properly enforced upon the rocks and beds by making it a criminal offense to catch and carry from the rocks any shells and small oysters measuring 2 and a half inches in length and with a shortened season for catching oysters with dredges, I have no doubt the rocks would be so replenished in a few years so we would be able to catch oysters at a reasonable price and with good profit to ourselves.

If our law remains unchanged, and we continue to unmercifully slaughter the industry, by catching the young oysters to be wasted in the packing houses or shell piles, we will not only find in the near future we cannot compete with our sister State Maryland in the production of oysters, but we will fall into the train of England, France and Germany where oysters "once were but are not."

We should profit by the example we see, of natural rocks gone to destruction, in our northern States -- and trusting that the people of Virginia will see their folly and enact a law at the next session of the Legislature to perpetuate the industry, is the desire of a purely interested citizen of the "Old Dominion."

CHARLES W. MARSH.

Hoffmans Wharf, Feb, 23, 1891.

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Watermen -- Watermen's organizationsSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation

MR. EDITOR:

At a meeting of the Oyster Union. No. 1. held at the Farmers' Alliance Hall, at Messongo, February 18th, the following resolutions were adopted, with the request that you publish them in your paper, and also urge upon those who feel an interest in the question, the importance of forming associations and appointing delegates.

Resolved 1st. That this Union appoint one delegate for every twenty-five members enrolled, or fraction thereof, to meet equal number of delegates from all other associations of the county at Accomac C. H., on April court day, next, for the purpose of forming a County Association, the said County Association to select a time and place, and call a convention from all Tidewater, to formulate an oyster law which will harmonize all conflicting interests. We earnestly urge upon all oyster communities to form associations and send delegates.

The influences arrayed against us cannot be ignored, and to be successful we must be united, we earnestly ask all to unite with us, who are in favor of the poorer classes reaping the blessings of nature, against monopolists who are clamoring for it, and will be successful if the views of some of our State officials and newspapers are carried out. We are not yet ready to surrender or hand over the control of our State affairs to monopolists, and request all who prefer the interests of the many to the few, to unite with us.

Resolved 2nd. That a copy of the above be sent to the ENTERPRISE with the request that it publish the same.

J. E. ANDERTON, Chairman.

W. F. BROADWATER, Secretary.