The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-23
LONG ISLANDS OYSTER WAR.
BABYLON AND IsLIP FIGHTING OYER
: THE FISHING GROUNDS.
some Lively Battles on Isiip Bay-Bnbyion-
inns Taken Prisoners-Isiip Champions Get
a DuckinG - Legislative Action Called for
--Iuterests Involved In the shell Fish War


The question whether n township has
jurisdiction over the tldc-watcr within its po-
itical boundaries is agitating the residents Of
Islip and Babylon. L. l. This is also being
made a subject OF Legislative inquiry. and pend
ing the result the oyster war. az II Is called has
broken out anew and is raging with increased
fury
Babylon and Islip adioin on the shores Of the
Creat South Bay. Each contains large fishing
population. and the right to fish in each others
waters has ever been Il bone Of contention be-
tween them.
The Babylonians claim the right OF digging
clans and dragging their nets in ls!ip bay and
its vicinity. Up to 1874 they were allowed TO do
so unmocstcd. Then law was passed by the
Legislature giving Islip complete jurisdiction
over that portion Of the bay lying between the
town and Fire Island the area extending ten
miles cast and west and eight miles to the
southwark. This includes the hest claiming
grounds in the bay and Fire Island inlet. than
which no better fishing ground is to be found
In the vicinity OF Long Island. To make mat
tiers worse the Islp fishermen have planted
millions of oysters on top Of the clans. and
have covered the bay with stakes to mark their
respective lots. These lots they rent from the
town at tho rate OF 81 an acre yearly. Believing
their rights to be invaded the bay men Of Baby
Ion have repeatedly visited the l-lip beds and
loaded their boats with both clans and oysters,
finding H. impossible to separate them. Tho
profcssod owners of these beds usually keep Il
watch over them. and frequent encounters oc-
cur in wuich sharp language Is used.
Seycrnl lively engagements have reeenily
I Edc 2ng Oh AMI Ge9 SS7 Keham
from the vi unity Of Babylon, were captured on
the oyster beds after SdIesperate struhs.sS' AZ
Elucilen u, tcham were pursued and captured
10y the bay constablcs
owning several acres OF oyster beds. discovered
sail Noat containing n party Of Babyl9nians
he oyster pirates, 50 called he secured tn ser;
vices OF two bay consubles. Gnd pulled
ments of the little party in the dnry
were soon observed by the intruders. En-
rascd at, being DISTURBED on what ih,eey
not think Of flight. On the contrary they got
their anchor, cased OF their sheets. and made
hostile demonstrations. the courage Of the party
from the shore completely forsook them. Ha-ti-
" turning about they made e-line Tor ConS-
The snilbon'. aided by a stiff breeze soon over
hauled them and striking their boat. intLe gun
sheercd Oh ana stood down the bay. Mr.. Sprn-
Ger and his men, after houndoring about Tor
some time. succeeded in making shore.
- A suit Is now on the calendar Of the supreme
Smaline an Islip oystcrman. is plaintiff AMI
several Babylonian fisherman. caught n the
The accusation against them Is that they dis
turbed the oyster beds. II il expected i4ai n is
case will test the right Of Outsiders 10 fish in the
These waters. il is averrcd, are included in
the patent u the. town IF Huntington. grattei
in the year 1866. from which town Babylon WAS
formed in 1872. II is therefore 'd that
lshp bay. ise other hays AMI wa WAY, ga;
that the Legislature had no rl-ht t. Interfere
concerning ii. On the other hani TIE lsAr
people say that the right Of a. Le-islu,nrs I.
pass the law is undoultcl, the action ~ that
body having been sustained At I. tliae vy II,
Supreme Court. Again. it is sail. the town Of
Babylon does not allow non-reslGents t. il-h Of
clam IN its waters; neither does the town Of
Dcnuiaiiaas ~ rc n i 5oG Of these towns hav,
recent tciun,l lefore the Senate C9mmi;te,
on Internal Alairs IN Albany. The peolle {.
ed. giving equal privileges to both towns. Super
yisors Wood Of lslip. and Duryea Of Bal Ion
kins OF The committee. in which h. says that III
seqimimItee hrs given careful aiteni1n 70 e.
served by is repeal He adds that The commit
tsS is aS Of 6s Pnop o a he Yfybs he 9
Of lslip. but should b. mutually enjoyed by tn
inhablian,- OF both that town and OF Babylon
The committee therefore recommend such ~
amendment Of the existing law as would Civ
the reciprocal right to both TO use the waters o
Ili-hel by amending the Tito Il Ia act 50 a. /,
include Babylon, by providing for The APPOINT
m'nt OF additional toinmlssl onors ior tie tow
Cqualin number TO thcs. # Islip. and hy adj .nl
The words " and Babylon" after the word IsllJ
Whenever it occurs In the law, and making smcl
other amendments us may be required. IA
COMMITTEES also recommend that the super
Nisors of the two towns. with their respective
counsel. meet in conference and draft bill /
carry ont this provision and forward il ~ Al
bany
Supervisor Charles T. DGryea Of Babylon
said yesterday that such hill es that SPOKEN d.
abcye would bee perfectly satisfactory T. I'll
people of that town. On thu other hand. Dl
THOMPSON oi Islip. who HIS made study g
tlie suWet Tor years. says that suen "a IN
" uld be- very unjust To- tn people of lslp. .
There are neither clam beds nor po-slhill
lies tor planting oysters III IT, Vicinity e.
Babylon. he said, ana cOusequg nty that tow
has, everything to gain and nothing To Use b
81. ID u hin."
The result Of such Il law another ronllena
thougl I. would be- Serbs OF cont rs Qyt
c.aliA-. and geascicss controversy
To xiv" som. il'a Of tn value u the Intel
osts involved In this coutroy rsy II l. ont
necessary - LAY that within the limits of LII
there are 700 acres Il oysters planted AMI 49,
aor0- II CLANS. Four thousand barrels
oysters, valued nj $4,000. have hgsn taken lrol
tie heds sin 9 September 1871 I'll Sc bed
are owned by 10 persons.
Barring His Neck to IA Hsiirond Engine.
Frolr pc JtMffsrn I,I.U. ~