The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-01
C0NNECTICUT'S OYSTERS.
4 NOT-1BLE AND IMPORTANT LEGI Is-
 LATITE HEARING

AG me StaJe Cap1tol-Ane COnneCtiCut Oy Sc
 ter Growers Association Represented by a
 Large Delegatiop-TestiInon of Prorni-
 nent Men.
 An important hearing upon the oys-
 ter interests of the state took place be-
 fore the fisheries committee of the gen
 eral assembly Wednesday afternoon
 The Connecticut Oyster Growers asso-
 citation was represented by large dele
 gation of prominent oyster growers
 from nearly every shore town from New
 Haven to Greenwich, and the Oyster
 men's Protective association was repre-
 scented by their legislative committee.
 Both the associations and the whole
 oyster interest of the state wes united
 in opposing the bill consolidating the
 shell fish commission with the fisheries
 commission and game commission; also in asking the general assembly to direct
 the shell fish commission to create an oyster police.
 The hearing was conducted on the part of the oyster interest by Henry c. Rowe, president of the Connecticut Oys- ter Growers association, who first called w, A. Lewis the representative of the Oystermen's Protective associa- tion, to express the wishes of the natu- ral' grothers, so-cafled.
 MT Lewis stated that in the opinion of the association he represented it would be injurious and inconvenient to the oyster interest of the state that such a bill as the one consolidating the three commissions should be passed. He said: "The oystermen and members of our association are unanimously op- posed to the passage of this bill. With reference to the oyster police bill I would say that we favor it's passage, and think it would be benefit to the planters. Moreover they think that the present shell fish commission is right and proper, and do not think it right that they should consolidate fish, game, etc., in it.
 Mir. Collins-"Now with reference to that bill touching oyster police-you think it is right, do you?" MT Lewis q think it would be beneficial to the planters to have system of police pa- troll"
 Mir Collins-"Now you know, Mr Rowe, a constable can only act In his own town, and sheriff cannot act out
 
 deputized" Mir. Rowe showed by ref erence to the statutes, revision of 1888, section 2,400, page 5S6, that MT. Collins was entirely mistaken in this state ment."
 Senator Chapman-"Mr. Lewis, would the oystermen have any objection to the shell fish commission being hanged in name to the Oyster Commission?' MT. Lewis replied-'T don't think I could answer that without consulting with my association."
 MT. Collins questioned the right of MT. Lewis to represent the Oystermen's | Protective association without writ 1 ten certificate that he was so author ized. MT. Rowe said-"I would like to | say in behalf of the State Oyster Crow l CTS association that committee of | thirteen representative men was ap- l pointed to present the views of the as- sociation. Captain Lewis and Cap | tain McGuinness were duly appointed | to represent their association, and it is | quite out of place for MT. Collins to question their appointment Their statement that they represent their as- sociation is quite sufficient before the legislative committee"
 MT. Rowe then called on Captain Nc Guinness of Stamford who said:-"It is in my opinion the unanimous wish of my association that this consolidation bill be rejected. I think the police bill should be passed We think that some thing like that is necessary and would be very beneficial to the oyster indus try of the state. MT. Hall inquired Why not have one gentleman from each association represent that associa- tion?' Mr. Rowe replied, stating to the committee-"It is rank impertinence for MT. Hall to say who shall represent these associations. Every oyster grow CT in the state has far more right to ap- pear before this committee than our friends Messrs. Collins and Hall, be- cause the oyster growers know some thing about the matter"
 Henry c. Rowe, president of the Con- necticut Oyster Growers association, said: I am directed by our association committee to state their views and give our reasons for them:
 Twenty-Five years ago great tract of barren sand lay between Connecticut and New ork, covered by from twenty to sixty feet of water, worthless ap- parently to man; supposed so worthless .. that no one took the trouble to find out whether Connecticut or New York owned it.
 Oyster cultivation was confined to the land-locked and protected waters. Some venturesome men undertook to ! raise oysters in this deep water, one, two and three miles from land. They were called fools" for risking their a and labor in such way. Peo- pie said, You cannot raise oysters Ehere if you raise oysters there the fl star-fish will destroy them; if you raise Q them there you cannot protect them; t you will get no titles to the ground; New York owns to our high water mark n and 1t is of no use to attempt any such T it is a case of fool and his t. money soon parted" D I was the earliest fool of them all in O hat the records show that I took the il irst designation in the deep water out e, tide of the reefs and headlands si We did have great difficulties. There W were contests of titles There was trong prejudice in the public mind b against the undertaking. The feeling k vas strong that oyster grounds, wheth- "
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