Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-03-13
Wilmington. Thursday, Mar. 10 1884,

The New Jersey oystermen are stirred
up over bill which has been introduced
into the legislature Of the state. The bill
Is the production of commission
appointed by Governor Ludlow under an
act of the last legislature. Its leading
featurers are the creation OF commission
ot.nine persons who slall maintain
regular departmental organization and
receive % for each day of service rem
dersd providing for survey OF all the
natural oyster or seed beds, ard that
the grounds set apart fer planting
oysters shall not be used for
the planting or growing Of CLANS;
imposing tax of 81 upon all boats under
five tons and fifty cents for each addi-
tional ton empowering the commission
to employ special officers to watch and
protect the grounds, and to make arrests
without process or warrant; that NO
oysters shall be taken from the natural
beds excepting 80 much OF the grounds
OF Cape May county as lie under the
waters Of Delaware bay from the LIST day of
July to the LIST day OF March in the sue.
oesding year, and that no oysters shall
be taken in Delaware bay north of line
running directly from Egg Island Light
house to Cross Ledge Light from June
18th to April LIST in the succeeding year,
and that no oyster shall be taken
from any OF the grounds of the Delaware
bay or Maurice river cove south of said
line from the 18th Of june to September
lat following in each year. The penalty
is fine of 5000, or imprisonment for not
less than one year, or both. 1t shall be
unlawful to use dredge or scraper in any
of the waters of the state excepting the
Delaware bay and Maurice river cove,
and it shall be unlawful to dredse fol
oysters upon any of the natural beds il
any of the creeks or rivers of the state
but such beds may be worked with rakst
or tongs, and the oysters taken may be
used for planting. The bill also repealt
all existing oyster legislation.
The celebrated mule oase" was de
cided in Princess Anne, Nd, last week
and the people of Somerset county nov
breathe more freely. Squire Warwiol
rendered the decision in the presence o
everybody who could squeeze into hi
office. The evidence in the case shows
that Augustus Reid sold the mule to /
R. T. Dixon for s70 taking in paymen
two notes, one for $50 and the other TO
be met in cash the other was payabl
In goods from Dixon's mill. Dixo
took his mule home and tried to max
him work, but the long cared beast ha
made up his nina not to do anything an
he stuck to that resolve with pert
naeity worthy OF better cause. Their,
upon Dixon entered plea of value III
received and refused to redeem the aior,
said notes. Hence the suit. Fou
lawyers tuOh uOlu Vi l1LS Cdeo fsuu tu6l
were witnesses produced to testify thu
the mule was worth all II
way from nothing downward
ward as their sympathies vibrate
between purchaser and seller. I'll
hearing occupied the greater part
two days, the squire taking the secor
day to review the evidence and the arg
ments and consider the best way out
the controversy. He finally came to II
conclusion that the ends OF justice wou
best be served by awarding the mule
Reid and requiring Dixon to pay u
costs. The lawyers consider the deeisit
little irregular, but the people gene
ally hold that it is strictly according
Hoyle and that, as the mule possessed
monetary value whatever, the soul
would have done violence to those gre
principles Of Justice which underlie t
very framework of all jurisprudence h
he required Dixon to pay anything
the animal,