Chap. 388.—An ACT to grant the right and privilege, for a period of
twenty years, of occupancy of certain flats and water fronts on James
river, upon certain conditions.

Approved March 2, 1888.

Whereas H. R. Parker, of the county of Isle of Wight, :
and state of Virginia, is the fee simple owner of a tract of
land in said county, fronting on James river, commencing at
Cooper’s creek, and extending up the said river to the lands
of Patrick Davis, and is the sole occupier by rental from the
state of Virginia, under the laws thereof, of the flats fronting
said land; and whereas the said flata in their present condi-
tion, are largely unfit tor the planting or propagation of oys-
ters, and from their nature several years must elapse, and
large sums be expended before the planting or propagation
of oysters thereon can be rendered profitable; and whereas
the said H. R. Parker desires to extensively engage in the
propagation of oysters upon said flats and water front, but
is deterred therefrom-by the uncertain tenure by which said
flats are held under the existing laws of Virginia: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That |
the said H. R. Parker be granted the exclusive right and '
privilege, for the period of twenty years, of occupying said
flats or water front, commencing at Cooper’s creek, the line.
between the said H. R. Parker and William Dean’s; thence
in a straight line five hundred yards in James river; thence
up said river in the direction of high shoal to a stake oppo-
site Fishing Point; thence up said river to a point opposite
the line between the said Patrick Davis and the said H. R.
Parker; thence to ordinary low-water mark on said line;
thence along said low-water mark to Cooper's creek, the point
of beginning, for the purpose of sowing, planting, and propa-
gating oysters—the said H. R. Parker paying annually to
the inspector of oysters for the county of Isle of Wight, the
sum of twenty-five cents per acre for the occupancy of said
flats or water front as aforesaid: provided however, that all
oysters or shells planted or sowed on the flats aforesaid, shall
be subject to the tax and restrictions imposed by law upon
planted oysters and shells, and the planting thereof, pre-
scribed by sections five, sixteen, twenty-one, twenty-two,
twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-six, and twenty-seven of
an act entitled an act for the preservation of oysters and to
obtain revenue for the privilege of taking them within the
waters of the commonwealth, approved March four, eighteen

fry : (on
hundred and eighty-four, as amended by the act approved
August the twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-
four: and provided further, that after January first, eighteen
hundred and ninety-two, the said H. R. Parker shall list each
year for taxation not less than one hundred bushels of oys-
ters, for each acre of water front included in this grant,
during the time which he holds the same.
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.