Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-06-18
LEWES' FISH-HOUSES.
Citizens Who Say That They
Are a Benefit to the Town.
THE FOOD FISH NOT MADE INTO OIL
Opponents OF the Fish-housos Disap-
pointed Because Judge wales Refused
co Grant an Iujunction-FrIends OF the
Enterprise Correspondingly Eiated.

Stan Correspondence Evening Journal.
LEwEs, June Is The opponents
Of the fish oil and scrap" houses In this
place are in sackcloth and ashes in con
sequence Of the refusal of Judge Wales,
Of the United States District Court. 20
grant an injunction enjoining the down
East manufacturers of fish oil from
conducting their branch manufactures
here. The advocates Of 'local indus
tries" and town revenue, direct aud
indirect, ara correspondingly elated
The fight has been going on for Ave or
six years 1t was begun by the Misses
Mcllvaine, but gradually assumed larger
proportions 1t has figured In the
county courts, Board Of Health, Town
Council, town elections, General Assem-
bly, aud United States District Court.
always with the same result-the fish
houses came out of the fight without a
shingle of or piece of weather boarding
sprung.
The Two Party Platforms.
The controversy may be summed up
in few words. The platform of the
anti-hsh house party is substantially as
follows:
"First-We believe the manufacture
Of dsh oil and scrap to be preiudieial to
the health Of the people OF Lswes, in
consequence Of the stencil arising from
the decaying fish and the acids used
"Secoud-We believe that the
scarcity of food FISH In the Delaware bay,
river and tributaries is due to these
same fish-oil manufactures, the purse
nets taking thousands of tons of FISH
other than the menhadeu, and all kinds
of food fish go into the oi,pots with the
| fish which are conceded to be not ft for
the food purposes
"rhird-Tho fsh-houses with their
rAssses Of decaying fish, are close to the
/ United States quarantine station, aud
impair it's efficiency aud render tue town
more susceptible 20 contagion from the
quarantine hospital.
! Fourth The fish houses should be
| suppressed on general principles
The platform of the fsh house Gd-
/ vocstes is:
First-"We do not believe that the
hsh-houses are prejudiciGl TO public
health, inasmuch as they have been here
for ten years, and there has never been
an epidemic of any character, and no
sickness which could possibly be traced
10 the odors arising from the manufac-
q
the houses are healthy and have raven
ous appettes, and, if they can stand IT,,
people living one mile aud q half awsy
should not object.
"Second-Tte fish-houses are sources
Of revenue 20 the town They lease the
land from the town, paying an annua
rental OF $500, TO say nothing Of the
town and county tax, state license, and
the increased mercantile trade Of Lewes.
10 is only at iufrequeut intervals that
the stencil, which IS a cross between
that Of a slaughter-house aud phos
phate factory, annoys the people oi
Lswes, and the complaint is confined tC
a very small proportion of the p0pula
tion. The only food FISH of which ther.
is any scarcity is the crocus, and there
was q marked decrease i'm the catch o
that species of FISH before the fish
. / houses were located here. 1t is a signih
cant fact that, In years in which the fish
houses are not operated the crocus is a.
scarce as in years when the purse net
are taking the menhaden.
Fourth-"We consider the proximit'
, Of the quarantine to our town to be
greater menace to public health than th
! / FISH houses are.
This about sums up the controversy.
p Captain j. ID. Truxton's Views.
e When your corresDondont resche,
d Loves Friday evening he called on Capital
Q J ID. TruXton. q leading contractor sn
e | business man Of the town. He is
member Of Town Council and secratar
- Of that body; man wholly dlsinter
{ est cd apart from the business interest
4 Of the place
p what do you think Of this agltatio
y against the fish housesg' he was asked
The factories are a great source q
n revenue to the town." he replied.
It don't think they are anything like
r. nuisance. doat find that the health {
the town is impaired II we we're I
drive them away 10 would bs turniu
that much revenue from the town. tn
l. amount of revenue which comes here
il consequence of them is enormous
, comes in different channels-operatini
n the amount Of money left In the tow
as by the laboring men, aud the goods the
ia purchase here The farmers and truol
n ers sell them hundreds Of dollars wort
pc Of vegetables.
at ITO how many men do the factori
IN give employment
Sometimes as high as 30O was Il
reply. "rhey have 70 have food al
a., clOlnluBi ana luty supply lutit Whu
III right here For ten years the town Ia
rs been getting from $40O to 5000 ye
ne from this source, in addition to the Il
laid
a. "The last factory which was bu
lis cost $4,000. I suppose that the t'
ei factories with machinery and boat
Gle represent an expenditure Of at lea
rd $500, OO0
ey The Wind That Brings the Smell.
,eR "From what direction must the wi
be blowing to drive the odor into town
"When the wind is from the east a
ed light we sometimes get the odor in
at town. At times it is offensive, but 10
of passing smell-it comes and goes I
IRE prevailing wind is not east IN
summer time, consequently we only
z the offensive odOrs at times
Have you ever had epidemics Of a
IA kind since the factories have been Local
Is; here2'
None in my recollection. The u
who work inths factories seem to be
most hearty and robust men We have, a
m. I fhav are rqVenous enters We have