The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-18

room. il the State desires to utilize the
labor of those who cannot now be en-
ployed. At least $50 more convicts could
be employees if there was sufficient shop
room. This prison authorities are COM
PEELED TO leave this large num-
Der Of able-bodied men unemployed,
because the State has not furnished
them with the shops in which to put them
to work. After consultation with those
having in charge the conduct of the prison,
/ recommend that the Legislature make an
appropriation of Sic, 600 to brild additional
shops, with the right to use any unex-
pended portion of the appropriation made
FIR the prison wall If this appropriation
is promptly made, the shops can be erected
and ready for occupancy by June of this
year. The authorities, as soon as the APP
preparation is made, oan proceed to make
arrangement for the employment of the
conyicls now out of work. SO that as soon
as the buildings are completed, the State
may commence at once to derive revenue
therefrom. The average loss to the State
by reason Of the unemployment of these
men, who cannot be utilized in the present
ships amounts to from twenty to thirty
thousand dollars per annum.
IT this additional shop room is supplied
am confident that the deficiency on State
Prison account, instead of being $4,000
will not exceed sac. 900 per anuum AS a
matter of wise, economical administration
of public affairs, this expenditure is abso-
lutely essential. The supervision of the
erection of the shops can wisely be left in
the hands OF those who have SO faithfully
and economically used the appropriation
II IN, h1 - 4lo
prison wall.
The Legislature at its last session abol-
ished contract labor in the prison, and
such labor is hereafter to be utilized under
chapter 1873 of the laws of 1884. Laws of
1884, p. $50 This act provides for the
employment of conyicts upon goods used
in institutions under State control, and for
prisoners not thus employed the Legsla--
ture has designated the sspiece price plan"
or the sspublic account system" After the
30th of June, 1885, at the expiration of the
contracts now existing, all the inmates OF
the institution must be employed under
one of these three plans. | am informed
that only small number can be employed
upon goods to be used in institutions
under State control; nearly all the con-
victs must be either employed on the
Npiece price plan" or the "public account
system" The authorities of the prison
are unanimous in their conclusion that the
sspiece price plan" is preferable to the
sspublic account system" and refer to the
report of the supervisor for his views on
this subject. can see no reason why the
State cannot substantially derive as much
income under the sspiece price plan" as
under the contract system abolished by the
last Legislature The present authorities
are taking steps to prepare for employing
the labor of the institution in accordance
with the act of the Legislature of the past
year.
The health of the inmates of the prison
is good, its discipline most excellent, and
its entire management in every way credi-
table to the State.
OYSTER LANDS.
serious question r~as presented for nv
consideration IN connection with grants of
iand unr.e water. / found that applica-
IONS were made for grants, for the only
apparent purpose. so far as / could ascer-
tain, of utilizing the land for oyster plant
ing. Irefused to approve grants under the
riparian act, where l was convinced that
the land was only to be used for oyster
culture. In this connection / visited, in
company with the Riparian Commissioners.
different parts of the State where oysters
are extensively cultivated. / have also ex-
amined the report of the oyster commission
of the State of Maryland, January, 1884,
the message of thr Governor of Rhode Is
land to the General Assembly at its session
1884; also the reports of the Shell Fish
commissioners of the State of Connecticut,
1882, 1883, 1884, and the laws of these and
other States interested in oyster culture.
The State of Connecticut received in
1882 over $4,000 from its oyster lands;
Maryland over $50, 1000, and Rhode Island
over $ll 900. In New Jersey, although the
oyster beds are almost exclusively upon
lands owned by the State, it derives no in
come whatever therefrom, although in the
majority of instances an acre of oyster land
is far more valuable in its product than an
acre of agricultural land on the adjacent
shore. / found there was a wide difference
of opinion among those engaged in this
busip ess as to what legislation was best for
the Stata and the people interested in this
industry. 1t was very generally agreed that
some legislation was necessary. The Con-
necticut act seems to me to be the best law
now existing in other States, but it does not
entirely suit our people. The bill intro
duced at the last session of the Legislature.
and known as Senate bill 1873, might be
made the basis of intelligent action on this
subject, the Legislature making such
changes therein as would obviate the objec-
tons heretofore made 10 proposed legisla-
ton on this subject. | am satisfied that
any law on this subject should provide
First. For State Commission and sur
vey of the oyster lands.
Second That the State should derive
revenue from the land under water used
for thus purpose.
Third. That the oyster lands should be
leased for limited term, at rental which,
during the first ten years, or until the in
terest was fully developed, should be very
moderate.
Fourth. That the lease of land should be
forfeited where the owner failed to Guilt
vate the land by placing thereon certain
number of oysters each year, unless good
cause should be shown to the commission
for failure SO to do.
Fifth, That there should be q portion of
the oyster lands staked off in designated
localities, to be used by the residents of
adjoining counties, without pay, in view of
the natural privileges which were enjoyed
for many years by the inhabitants of diff
ferent parts of the State, in reference to
CLAIMS and oysters.
Sixth, That a portion of the oyster land
should also be set aside for seed ground
for oysters, and authority be given for the
expenditure Of a certain amount annually
for their propagation.
Seventh, That oysters should be taken
from this seed ground only at certain sea-
sons of the year, and each boat engaged
in the business should pay an annual Ii
cense.
Eighth, Those taking leases should have
exclusive possession of their grounds upon
payment of the annual rental, and strin-
gent laws should be passed for the protec-
ton Of those engaged In planting oysters,