Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-11-22
Potomac Fishermen.

We learn from the Alexandria Gazette
that movement on the part Of fishermen
on the Potomac is on foot in that city to
to counteract combination formed by
packers and salters to reduce the price of
fish. A meeting of the fishermen will be
held, when the following preamble and
resolutions, which are said to have receiv-
ed the approval and signatures of five of
those most extensively engaged in seine
aauling, will be offered:
WHEREAS, We the fisherman of the Po-
tomac have reason to believe that the sal
tiers and buyers of fish in the town of Alex
andria have combined to put the price of
fish down to so low figure that no one
can afford to sell without meeting with a
serious loss; and whereas we deem it a du-
ty we owe ourselves to do something to
prevent another serious loss such as we
met with last Spring, and with no desire
for revenge for the past, for we consider
the salters and buyers of our fish as indis-
pensably connected with our interest,"
Therefore be it resolved that we whose
names are here unto signed do pledge our
selves one to the other to do all in our
power to abate the nuisance; first by pre-
pairing ourselves to salt all the fish we can
on the shore, and sending as few as posi-
bic to the town of Alexandria in order to
prevent Quitting the market. Believing
also that fish sailed on the shore are more
merchantable article than those sailed
in town, after being bu1ked and heated in
a vessel, and ought and will bring bet
ter price. Secondly, knowing that our
vessels are sometimes becalmed and our
fish arrive in market in critical condi-
ton, or if in a steamboat, heated, and
knowing that the salters and buyers will
avail themselves of that fact to reduce the
price to accommodate hemselves,-There-
fore, it is resolved, that we will unitedly
rent shed or sheds and each pay our dis
tributive share of said rent in order that
we may protect ourselves by sailing such
fish there.
Resoloed, That we will select second
agent to superintend, and if our first agent
cannot sell our fish for satisfactory price
he is to hand them over to the second a.
gent to be sailed and disposed of accord
ing to directions from the shore or owner
of the fish from where they came, and said
owner to bear the cost of sailing; the Sec
ond to be paid-per cent. commission
out of the sale for his trouble.
Resoloed, That our shad are to be dis
posed of in somewhat like manner. If
our first agent cannot sell them according
to instructions he is to hand them over to
our second, who is to pack them in ice and
send them north to be sold by one hereaf-
ter to be named.
Resol0eh, That each and all of us, espe-
cialy those living nearest, are to do all in
our power to establish fish market at or
about Quantico Creek, in order to draw
from Alexandria all we can to prevent a
glutted market at said place.
ResoIoed, That all who can will send a
few fish stands to Alexandria for his oson
use, with his name marked thereon, in case
all fish stands there may be already filled,
to be removed at the end of the season, or
disposed of as the owner may think prop
er; and be it further resolved that we will
unitedly endeavor to lessen the price of
fish barrels, believing they are now far a
bove what they ought to be.