1904.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 1241

river, the committees resolved to meet in joint confer-
ence at Old Point Comfort, Va., on the 14th day of
May, 1902.

Accordingly, on that date the committees met at
Old Point Comfort, and thence proceeded to Lewisetta,
the Maryland Committee being aboard the State
Steamer, "Governor Thomas," and the Virginia Com-
mittee being aboard their State Steamer, "Relief."
The joint session of the committees was held at Lewis-
etta, on board the "Relief," on Thursday night, May
15, 1902. Hon. Charles S. Grason, was chosen Chair-
man of the Joint Committee, and Hon. AY. Cardwell,
Secretary.

An interesting and instructive discussion ensued
which brought out the fact that in the upper part of
the oyster bearing waters of the Potomac, the oysters,
by reason of frequent freshets, never reach the size at
which it is permissible under the cull law to take
them, in consequence of which the whole oyster pro-
duct of this portion of the river is entirely lost. It
was, therefore, suggested that a line be fixed by the
sub-committee to be appointed, above which it should
be lawful for the citizens of both States to take oysters
out of season for planting in the waters of the two
States, without regard to the size or to the provisions
of the cull law. It was suggested that the said line
should extend from the bluff on Cobb's Point Bar, on
the Maryland side, to Colonial Beach on the Virginia
side.

It was also agreed to shorten the tonging season in
the Potomac by one month, and that no tonging should
be permitted before October 1st instead of September
1st as at present. It is believed that such a change
will prove beneficial not only to those engaged in oys-
tering, but also to the farmers of the tidewater dis-
trict. Oysters caught in September cannot, as a rule,
be marketed profitably on account of the warm weath-
er and, on the other hand, farmers who are usually
busy at this time find it almost impossible to secure
farm hands because so many laborers go oystering.
By making the tonging season open October the first,
the farmers can better harvest their crops.