Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-02-21
VOL. XLVII.
OYSTERMEN'S MEETING.
They Meet Senator Stokes and
Assemblymen Austin and
Minch and Talk Oyster Law.

Minch and Talk Oyster Law.
There was great meeting of oyster.
men at Port Norris last Saturday, the
object of which was to meet the mem.
bers of the legislature from this county,
Senator E, @. Stokes and Assembly.
men Austin and Minch, and give ex-
preston of their views and opinions
with regard to the passage OF House
bill No. 2S9, which was published In
the PIONEER on Friday.
There were delegations Of oystermen
from Bridgeton, Millville, Fairton,
Cedarville, Newport, Maurice town,
Dividing Creek, Port Elizabeth, Lees
burg, Dorchester and Heislerville, as
we'll as the Port Norris oystermep.
Turner's Hall, In which the meeting
was held was packed and jammed with
the hardy oystsrmep. The meeting was
called to order by Senator Stokes, who
briefly stated that the object of the
meeting was the expression of opinion
upon the merits of the bill affecting
their interests now pending in the
Legislature.
Capt. Samuel Dillahay was made
Chairman of the meeting, and VIM.
n. Berry was made Secretary.
Assemblymen Austin explained how
the bill came to be introduced into the
House of Assembly. He said that be-
ing the introducer of the joint resolu-
ton by which the Legislative Oyster
Commissioners to investigate the con-
ditlon of the oyster industry in Maur.
Ice River Cove was created about
year ago, by whom the bill was drawn
and included In their report, 1t de-
volved upon him to father the bill and
introduce 1t. He said he introduced
the bill with a considerable amount of
reluctance, but after being informed
that there would be meeting of oys-
tsrmen held In Port Norris on Satur-
day, he thought it best to introduce
the bill so that 500 copies could be
printed for distribution among the
oystermep, which was done.
Mr.. Austin made the further state
ment that they were to obtain infor-
nation and not for the purpose of
advising men who were practical oys-
termep. 1t remained with them, the
oystermen, to say whether the said
bill should be pushed to passage or
withdrawn.
We said he was not an attorney nor
an oysterman, but was there to learn
what the oystermen wanted and to
hearathem.
Chairman DilIahay, as feeler, no
doubt, to sound the temper of the
meeting, and to ascertain which way
the wind was blowing, said that he
hoped the oystermen present would
realize that their interests were all
common interests he hoped that each
one would lay eside all differences and
private interests and consider action
for the best interest of all. He said it
was critical period with the oyster
men and something must be done;
something was needed to be done or
their business would be ruined. He
hoped that all would come together In
one solid phalanx and let 1t be known
what it was desirable to have done by
the Legislature. He said he hoped
that the oystermen present would free
ly express their views on the bill now
pending. AS If to still further and
more distinctly find the feeling of
the meeting, he concluded his remarks
on the subject by asserting that there
was no riparian interest concerned.
The reading of the bill was called for
and Secretary Berry read it.
On the platform, besides the Chair
man and Secretary, were Senator
Stokes and the two Assemblymen and
two or three others, who listened at.
tentively.
Some one In the audience suggested
that the proceedings of meeting held
there the day before be given; others
suggested that the proceedings of a
meeting held in Dividing Greek the
evening before be given, but the
Chairman did not think 1t best to let
this be done at that particular juno
ture, and Capt. Peter Campbell was
called out as the first one to voice the
sentiments of the meeting.
He began most vigorously. "We
don't want State control of our own
business" he said at the onset. 'sThe
trainers of this bill are not acquainted
with the oyster business and they are
not familiar with what we want. The
commissioners to be appointed
under the provisions of this bill
are to be men not acquainted with
the oyster business. We don't want
any such men to have charge of our
affairs. We know too much about
what 1t is to have men to try to man.