The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-02
WAR ONITHE sHAD POLES.
How Capt. Conway Puiied Up Those that
Impeded Navigation In the Hudson.

Impeded Navigation In the Hudson.
Il Is lawful for the shad fishers Of the New
Jersey side TO extend their poles and ncts to
the middle OF the North river. and no further.
But these Jcrseymen in their unbecoming
greed have extended their poles far bcynd tho
line. They did the same thing last year and
were punished. but they did not profit by tho
lesson. There are many good reasons why this
encroachmcnt Is resisted, among which is the
fact that the lady passengers on one Of the down
boats the other morning were so frightened by
the rasping of the poles on the bottom " the
boat that they appeared on deck in grcat con
stcrnation The fishermen were duly warned
against tho cncronchmcnt and were aftcrwnrd
directed to remove tho offending poles prior to
the Goth ult. but they gave no heed. either to
the warning or to the notice. AT n meeting OF
the Pilot Commissioners on Tuesday evening n
rrsolutiOn was passed. ordering that these
hardened fishermen should be dealt with in
summary manner, and the task OF proceeding
against them and pulling UP the poles fell to
Soon after O'Clock Yesterday morning tho
pany's ilcct. started from Pier 10. Fast river.
and steamed TO the north side. running M the
river in search of Illicit shnd poles. The first
row OF poles runs out from the vicinity OF Eagle
pier and does moi extend hcvond the middle OF
,he ryer. Nearly OPPOSITE Castle point are three
than the law allows Hnreeight men were wait
Ing in rowhoat. evidently anticipating the ap-
prunch Of Capt. Conway. They were hnilrd,
and warned 10 pull ny the four outside poles be-
fore the return Of tho tux from up the river.
The next row Of poles extending too far across
tho river was ncnrly opposite Fiitv-ilrst street.
and here the process Of pulling began Two
stout men. whom Capt Conway had previously
taken on similar expedition. made fust to poles
with cnble. taking twice around and a half
hitch. and the poles were drawn out 81 the mud
poles had been pulled. five men approached in
= boat. They SAID that tho poles belonged to
Thomas bort and asked TO be allowed TO pull
them and preserve their nets. Thor promise
to remove four poles was accepted and the tug
moved up the river g z point opposite the Gle
River Railroad Company. Here n sloop had be-
como fast in the poles. and was being hauled
On 10y q TUG; These poles were owned hy Mat
thias Donald. who appeared with bouts crew
Of men, and wanted to know: Why duut YOU
give us show We've paid to have the Com
nissiuncrs let us stay hero"
Who have you paid" asked Cant. Conway.
J., Danlllno, replied il, me man we paid some
But he WAS not given thr desired show. Some
half dozen poles were taken out here. The tug
steamed up to even with Seventy-sevcnth street
and pulled nbou; n score of poles belonging to
James Older. Opposite Tooth street thn nets
hai been taken up ~ anticipation OF tho raid.
and the loss 10 the fishermen wns consequently
very much less than II otherwise would have
been.
After number of poles had been lifted at this
point the tux went down the river and halted
OF Thirty second street. Here Van Iile. owner
OF ,he row Of poles and nets appeared. and
the afternoon. HIS excuse for not having re-
moved them was that the tide had been high
aud the river foggy. He SAID that he WIS u poor
man. aud that all h. had IN the world was in
vested In those poles and nets. While he was
pleading for his propertyq boat cnme alongside.
ana q man ~ inc bow snid;s Can't you lot this
What's your name :" inquired Capt Conway.
Ludlow answered the man. Ludlow is
well known along the river rs n successful
fisherman. and he offered to give s20OO0 sccu-
rity that the man would remove the poles ac-
cording 10 tho proposition. Van Zile was loft
to fulfil his promise.
The next row attacked was of Seventeenth
once begin removing the poles. The offer was
accepted. Again the tug moved up the river to
APPOINT opposite Eightcth street. whore a row
OF poles extended very far across the middle
line. While Capt Conway was attacking this
point crews OF men came out from the shore
and began pulling the poles in the rows
above. \ small sailhoat came up tho river. aud
a man at the bow called out: " say. boss. who
gets the money we paid to have these poles left
Capt Conway knew nothing about the pay
ment u any money.
man and Ia ikHe to Know who ' get. it. I rR ,"
he hauled his sail into the wind and went down
the river. He was Thomas bort owner of srv-
cral rows OF poles soon party Of men came
down the river from where a gang was work
ing. and promised 10 remove the required num-
from the attack. The promise, being clinche
with mnny assertions OF good faith. was a.
cepted. and the expedition rcturnedto the place
OF starting.
The number OF poles taken out was not far
from forty. These, together with the nets and
expense Of setting them. must have cost the
fishermen about 800 "A pole. The fishermen
were in no ease violent In behavior or lau-
guage. They protested against the destruction
OF their property. made all manner Of excuses
Tor not having complied with the notice gwen
them. aud almost invariably asked the prlvi-
cgc OF themselves removing the poles and saw
ing their property. Capt. Conway considers
me task an unpleasant one. and executes It
with many expressions Of regret TINT the FISH
ermen did not better consult their own interests
when they spread their nets.