248 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 18

Senate—Hon. Harding Walker, Hon. John R. Saunders and
Hon. J. E. West; House—Hon. J. Harry Rew, Hon. Robt. O.
Norris, Hon. T. A. Tett and Hon. Philip A. Murray.

The above committee having been notified, a meeting was
called at 8 P. M., January 18, 1916, in the State Corporation
Commission Court Room (Old Senate Chamber). The full
Virginia committee and other interested were present, and
the meeting was called to order by Speaker Houston, the for-
mer chairman of the committee. Mr. Houston spoke of the
meeting of the Joint Legislative Commission from Maryland
and Virginia at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, August 3 to 5,
1914, and he said that the two committees had agreed that
something must be done to protect the crabs and fish of Chesa-
peake Bay. At this point he introduced Swepson Earle, of
Maryland, who was sent down by Senator Benson, chairman
of Maryland committee, to represent him and the State of
Maryland at this conference.

The following is quoted from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
of January 19, 1916:

"Mr. Earle, of the Maryland Commission, spoke at length
on the blue crab of Chesapeake Bay and the importance of
conserving the crab industry for the crab fishermen of Virginia
and Maryland. The protective measures, he said, most essen-
tial for the conservation of this industry, are a cull law on hard
crabs, five inches from tip to tip of spike, and the protection
of the female egg-bearing crabs, which are found extensively
in Virginia waters near the capes. He pointed out that the
Virginia crab scrapers working in Pocomoke Sound depend
upon the protection of the female crab when she came to
Virginia waters during the winter to spawn. "

Representatives from Hampton and Newport News were
present, representing the McMenamin Crab Packing Company.
When Allen D. Jones, vice-president of the above company, was
heard, he objected to the protection of the female crab, as he
said that their company would have to shut down several
months during the year. Mr. Jones acknowledged that the
Hampton packing companies had been using the egg-bearing
female crabs for years. He was followed by S. S. Coston, who
operates in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Mr.
Coston was heartily in favor of the cull law, but thought the
protection of the female crabs, bearing eggs, should be limited
to the month of August. The Maryland representative stated
that if Virginia was not willing to do, her part in the protection
of this crustacean, that the industry would dwindle in both
States.