Virginia Marine Resources Commission Oyster Chart Collection 1894-1977

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission Oyster Chart Collection, 1894-1977. State government records collection. Record Group 200. Accession 53375. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission Oyster Chart Collection, 1894-1977. State government records collection. Record Group 200. Accession 53375. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Virginia Marine Resource Commission Oyster Chart collection is comprised of 96 oyster charts, 5 aerial photographs, 1 fish stake chart and 1 volume of oyster charts for Maryland's oyster grounds. At the time that many of these charts were created, pre-1950, the oyster grounds were known by several names: oyster rocks, oyster shoals and oyster bars. Public rocks are those set apart by the Baylor Survey of 1894 for the exclusive use of the public. The other areas were classified as lying outside of the Baylor Survey and were eligible for leasing by private individuals. Public rocks were used by individual tongers who paid an annual license fee; tongers removed oysters from the public beds with a hand tong. The private or leased grounds were rented from the state and the oysters were removed by dredges.

Fred E. Ruediger (1863-1956) supervised the survey or resurvey for many of Virginia's public oyster grounds that are in Tidewater Virginia. Prior to his employment with the Virginia State Commission of Fisheries, he was a surveyor for Accomac County. The surveys can include the names of oyster planting grounds, the acreage of rented oyster grounds and their lessees. Numerous place names are present, as are station names, lighthouses and their locations, and the location of low water lines and marshes. The coordinates have been recorded for the area charted, when possible.

Biographical / historical:

Established in 1875 as the Virginia Fish Commission, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) is one of the oldest agencies in Virginia State Government. Until the last decade, shellfish regulation has dominated much of the agency's activities because of the economic and cultural importance of the oyster industry. Private leasing of State bottom for the planting and propagation of oysters appears to have begun before 1875, but it was not until 1884 that the Commonwealth set up the Board of the Chesapeake to handle the regulations of the oyster industry. Public oyster grounds were mapped (the so-called Baylor Survey) during 1892-1895.

The Fish Commission, which at that time dealt with both fresh and saltwater fisheries issues, was consolidated with the Board of the Chesapeake in 1898 to form the Board of Fisheries, later the Commission of Fisheries, which was given the task of managing all shellfish and finfish issues statewide.

The Habitat Management Division of the Commission traces its origin to 1962 when the responsibility for permit encroachments in or over State-owned submerged lands was transferred from the Office of the Attorney General to the Commission of Fisheries. This made marine management in Virginia unique in that living resources, and the habitat on which they depend, came under the jurisdiction of the same agency.

A legislative study commission in 1967 recommended a broadened mission resulting in the agency being renamed the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in 1968 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly. The Virginia Wetlands Act was passed in 1972 and placed under the management of VMRC, as was the 1980 Coastal Primary Sand Dune Protection Act. In 1982, the General Assembly broadened the 1972 Wetlands Act to include non-vegetated wetlands. In 1984, a distinct Fisheries Management Division was created and its authority over fisheries issues was strengthened. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is headquartered in Tidewater, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
Arrangement:

Arranged geographically and then by date.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
8 boxes, 1 volume and 1 chart