Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-15

DcrcncaIer OystcrmcD Capture Al
legged Escpreiiaioys srons soMcgset.

Bcrcncsser OystcTncD Capture ALI
legged popresiat0ys fron .0.ncFset.
Baltimore sun special.
CAMparpeF, ND, Oct. 13.-Deputy-
Commander George II. Roberts of the
oyster police sloop Julia hamilton, which
cruises in the lower waters of Dorchester
county, visited Cambridge to-day to seek
the advice of Siate's-Attorney Henry
regarding new point in the local
dredging law. He reports that on Fri.
day last a party of Dorchester oyster
men rniled and attempted 20 drive of
a number Of vessels dredging in Fishing
bay, between Hollands straits and
Sharks Fin, in Dorchester county waters,
which the raiding party claimed were
owned in Somerset county. A number Of
shots were exchanged and the Somerset
boats retired after several of their party
were captured. The parties arrested
were carried before Justice George W.
Wingate Of Strnit's district. Two of
them gave hail for their appearance Mt
court, and the others were discharged 1t
appears that although the boats hail
from Deals Island, Somerset county,
all of them are said to have license
from Dorchester county, and Captain
WINS III ttoubtt oMllR W tlllb Abbbf
as to his duties in the premises. The law
requires an applicant for dredging
license TO make onth before the clerk of
the circuit court that he has been bona
fide resident of the county for IL months
next preceding his application for license,
and also that he shall exhibit at the same
time his custom house license showing
the true tonnage of his vessel or the
oath may be made and the license ex-
hibited to any justice of the peace of the
county, upon whose certificate the clerk
is authorized to issue the license. II is
possible that through misconstruction
of the requirements of the law by some
of the justices some licenses may have
been enormously issued TO residents of
the county who are using foreign vessel,
or who have acted as go-between for
non-residents. No. 1862 is the only mum
Der of the captured vessels which Captain
Roberts could recall.
A reference to the license book in the
clerks office shows TINT this number was
given to Elisha Thomas resident of
Dorchester county, for the sloop Nautilus.
It is claimed that the sloop is owned in
Somerset county and that Joseph Thomas,
resident of Somerset county, was in
charge of the vessel when taken. The
license, it appears was issued upon the
certificate of magistrate.
Captain Roberts states that while he
suspected that q number of Somerset
county vessels were being used i'll Dor
chester county, and not knowing his duty
under the circumstances he came to Cam
bridge for the purpose of consulting with
the states attorney. He was advised that
the fishing bay law requires that the resi-
dents who are authorized to license and
dredge shall be the owners of the boats,
ane it is unlawful for foreign vessel to
be used. Neither is it.lawful for resi-
dent who owns the boat to take out q
license and then put a nonresident in
charge of the vessel for the purpose of
dredging in the waters mentioned.
Captain Roberts will therefore arrest
all parties who are not licensed in-accord-
ance with the above construction of the
law.
Fishing bay, it will be remembered, was
the scene of the disturbances of February,
1884, which led to the fruitless raid of
the oyster police steamers Leila and Gov.
Hamilton.