Dispatch, July 10, 1890
OYSTER INTERESTS. Annual Meeting of the Oyster-Planters' Association and Convention of Allied Interests.
Watermen -- Watermen's organizationsSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PlantingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation
Hampton, Va., July 9. -- The first annual meeting of the Oyster Planters' Association of Virginia and Convention of Allied Interests was called to order in the assembly-room of the Young Men's Christian Association at 11 A.M. by Mr. James McMenamin, of Hampton. On motion, Colonel J. J. Phillips, of Norfolk, was called to the chair and the following committees appointed:
THE COMMITTEES.
Permanent Organization -- John A. Palmer, Lancaster county; H. L. Schmeley, Elizabeth City county; J. White, Norfolk county; William Brittain, Nansemond county.
Resolutions -- S. F. Miller, Mathews county; Captain Orris A. Browne, Northampton county; Captain J. Heffelfriger, Elizabeth City county.
The following officers, reported from the Committee on
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
were elected: President, Colonel J. J. Phillips; Vice-President, Captain Orris A. Browne; Secretary, V. P. Holt, Elizabeth City.
By request of the Committee on Resolutions Mr. James McMenamin, of Elizabeth City, was added.
Colonel Phillips stated that all oyster interests were to be represented by this convention. It is expected that the Committee on Resolutions would so shape the course of the meeting there should be no conflict in any branch of the oyster business. He hoped that if there were any differences of opinion in the convention that all would be prepared to make sacrifices for the general good.
RULE ADOPTED.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the following:
Resolved, That no resolution or communication which has not been formulated and acted upon by this convention, and reported to the convention for its action, shall be allowed to be presented before the convention at its joint meeting with the legislative committee.
After considerable debate with one man on one side and the entire convention of the other the report was unanimously adopted. There being many papers presented to the Committee on Resolutions, a recess was taken to 3 P.M. Quite a number of delegates are in attendance, some ten counties being represented.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED.
The convention reassembled at 3 P.M., but as the Committee on Resolutions was not ready to report, was not formally called to order. A list of the delegates was taken and it was found that the following counties were represented: Isle of Wight, 2 delegates; Nansemond, 5; Elizabeth City, 17; Norfolk, 3; Northampton, 2; Mathews, 5; Warwick, 1; Middlesex, 2; Northumberland, 1; Lancaster, 1; and York, 1. Total, 40 delegates.
Mr. T. S. Hodson, of Crisfield, Md., a man prominent in oyster circles, is also present.
The following is the local Reception Committee: H. L. Schmeley, M. B. Crowner, A. Howe, B. M. Johnson, J. Kimberly, J. S. Jones, George A. Schmeley, F. W. Darling.
It is supposed that a large number of delegates will arrive to-morrow, which will be the principal day as the legislative committee on the Chesapeake and Tributaries will be present.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The Committee on Resolutions reported at 4:20.
Strong papers from Orris A. Browne and James McMenamin, and John A. Palmer were read and adopted. The committee's report was in substance as follows: Asking the Legislature at its next session to pass laws to this effect: to grant perpetual franchises to oyster planters; to secure uniform oyster fishing rights through the State; that present planters have preference in grants and their rights to be held sacred; there should be no interference in riparian or property rights; that there be a better system of defining boundaries; that if oysters need protection, the Governor appoint officers, but to be chosen, paid, instructed, and dismissed by the planters; that no stream less than one hundred yards wide be subject to location. Adjourned to 3 o'clock tomorrow.