The Penn's Grove record., 1891-07-17
POINTS of INTEREST for FISHER.

of the benefits which the shad fishermen
have received, directly and indirectly
through the Shad Fishermen's Pro
tective Association. | think every
fisherman who is not pIejudiced againsI
the Association will admit to be tru,
what | state futher Oh. In the first plac,
it would lie proper to ask what was thu
Shad Fisherman's position before The
Association vas organized. l think
can answer the above question to thu
satisfaction of all. In the first place be
fore our Association was organized the
freight on shad from PENIS Grove tC
Philadelphia was one dollar and fifty
cents per hundred. At Hope Creek,
Stoney Point, and Alloways 1t was two
dollars per hundred. At Hope Greek
we had three boats to carry shad to
Philadelphia-one steamer and two
sloops.
Most of our shad were thrown into
the holds Of these vessels in q rough
m tanner, numbers of them getting bruis-
ed and mashed SC badly that they would
not bring scarcely anything. Beside
ihls, these two lay boats were heavily
ballast as they lowed up at night and
sailed back the following day. Draw
ing so much water they could not lay
in the Creek long after the tide began
to fall. Hence they would go out into
the Bay and lay there in all kinds of
weather. Sometimes it would be so
rough it would be almost impossible to
get our shad aboard these boats. |
have seen masts, oars, and bowsprits
broken and sometimes u hand crushed
alongside of these lay boats in rough
weather.
One of these boats had to be towed
to Philadelphia every night, requiring
much longer time for Capt. Denny to
reach market than it have other
wise would without this boat to tow.
In connection with these disadvantage
was that nearly all of our sllad went d.
rectly to the commission men in Phiia.
delphia and, as IA result of this method
of disposing of II sliad, we received
but little money for them. The COM
mission men have been multiplying so
fast the last few years it has taken a
good share of our earnings to support
them. Another thing to be noticed is
we did not have any shad buyers along
the line.
Neither did we get any percentage
off of Irvine and netting nor anything
pertaining to IL fisherman's outfit. The
above are some of the disadvantages
which we labored under, previous TO in
stituting our Association. There are
other things | could mention that were
against us, but the above facts are suf-
licient to show our position before our
Association was organized.
Now let us see whether the fishermen
have gained anything through the AS
socition. l think an examination of
tile facts will prove to every fair mind
ed fisherman that they have been great
ly benefited Though the Association,
Notwithstanding some same say they
have not received any through this
channel. Let u see. The reduc-
ton in freight the last two springs
would reach two thousand dollars.
The percentage off on the netting
the two years would, | think.
amount to two thousand dollars more.
And Il percentage off Of everything per-
to II lisherman's outfit would
amount TO two hundred dollars more,
making f0rty-twO hundred dollars saw
ed to the fishermen of Salem county in
two years.
Really this is something the Associa-
ton has done to benefit the fishermen.
Instead OF three boats at Hope Creek
ID carry the shad we have but one uow
to do the work, lay boat in the
Creek to receive the sh d. | will say,
for the credit Of Capt. Denny, this boat
was kept there nearly all the time dur
ing the past spring, anchored in the
Bay only when compelled to.
Our shad are now all put into boxes
and carefully handled. This is "a great
improvement owe the old system of
throwing them into the hold in a heap.
We hear no more complaint of bursted
shad. We al buy netting and Irvine
for less money than we could before the.
Association was organized. We cad
get a fair percentage off of everything
pertaining to iishermen's outfit.
Not the least of benefits to be derived
IS the selling of our shad. We have
and stirred up the buyers 50
now have a number who come to
different fishing places along the
River and buy shad. New York deal
Frs bought a large number of shad in
.he Bay the past two springs. Over
)ne hundred thousand were bought at
during the past two springs.
The same amount OF more was bought
1t PENIS Grove by J.. Wilmer Clark.
Nearly all of these shad went to New
York and the county towns of PENN
.sylVania, thus relieving the Philadel-
phia market and causing the shad to
bring Il much better price than they
otherwise would had they all gone to
Philadelphia, thus, no doubt, putting
at least two thousand dollars more
money into the lishermen's pockets
han they would have received had
here been no Association. This makes
six thousand dollars saved to fish
ermen in two years.
l think that the above facts will
prove to the most skeptical that the
Association has done
much to place the fishermen on a bet
Ter financial footing. 1t is folly to say
t would have been the same had there
been no Asso citation. We would have
remained in the same old ruts indeli-
Neither is it true of these who
they are benefited the same as those
who belong to the Association. Not
withStanding all of the fishermen have
been benefited to some. extent. But it is
only those who belong TO the Associa-
tioA and have taken the obligation flor
have made il a secret Association)
that know anything about the benefits
he members are receiving. Those of
you who are outside would lie surprised
10 know how many dollars you could
save every year by joining the Associa-
lion. Every shad fisherman in the
county ought to join this Association,
and he would join it if he had any de-
sire TO promote his " interests. We
would lie glad TO have Pennsville fisher.
men join II Association or any 9TH
ars who desire to join, 1t costs but
cents 10 join and five cents per
month dues. We invite everybody to
Join that We may all be benefited alike.
Dur next meeting will be in the room
w. Shoemaker'S butcher shop on