The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-18

Caught on Staten IaIaud with Undersized Lob
stcrs In Their Possession.

Fifteen luckless fishermen, loaded down with
1G0 Holsters which fell below the legal limit
in length, were taken into custody yesterday
morning by State Game and Fish Protectors
Edgar F.. Hicks and John w. Lisk, and all but
four remained in the West Brighton, S. l., lock-
up yesterday evening, unable to settle the
fines, which ranged from $40 up to $3.50, and
which in the aggregate amounted to $745. All
the prisoners are New Workers, living on the
upper east side, and nearly all are German
cigarmakers. Unless they pay the fines they
are likely to be locked up in the county Jail one
day for each dollar of the sum which is i'm.
posed on them.
Last week Protector Hicks received q letter
from a fisherman at Pleasant Plains notifying
him that the law relating to the trapping Of
Holsters was being violated daily by men who
came down from New York and nshed with
crab pots. The information was given that
the men sometimes fshed all night and went
away early in the morning, or came down on
tho first boat in the morning and left under
the cover OF darkness. Large catches were at
tributed to them, and the informant said that
unless prompt measures were taken to stop the
illegal fishing. the lobster grounds would be
denuded OF fry and small fish. Sunday, it
was said, was the principal fishing day;
Yesterday morning about 2 o'clock Hicks
went to Pleasant Plains. He waited for the
early train to arrive, and shortly before 1t was
u Nv lhtA oAh w II oNtN
laden with pots and three bags in which were
Holsters. They were not disturbed until the
train pulled out of the station, and then Hicks
examined their bags and put them under ar.
rest for having Holsters under the legal limit Of
size. 1t was then about $50 o'clock. The
men were taken before Justice Bernard Mullin
Of Port Richmond. The prisoners gave their
names as Frank Meystrik, Gottlieb Lenhart,
and John Ficka. All live in East Seventy-irst
street. Lenhart was, fined $40 for two lob:
sters, and paid the fine. Meystrik was fined
$35 for seven, and paid. Ficka had seven also,
and was fined $50. but went to Jail in default
Of payment.
Hicks sent for Protector Lisk and the two
went to the st. George ferryhouse and waited
for the return Of persons who went to the
grounds early in the morning. About noon
their vigilance was rewarded by the sight of O
half dozen fishermen coming off the Totem
willie train. The protectors stopped them and
measured the Holsters they had. Thereafter
during the day the protectors took turns in
halting fishermen and a%rresting those having
fines imposed are: Joseph kondeka, 324 East
Scventy-third street, eleven Holsters, S55; Jo-
seph Havelka, East Seventy first street, ten
Holsters, $50; Joseph Veprck, ten Holsters, $50:
Joseph Lucas, l4Ol Avenue A, seven HOLSTERS,
$35; Frank cages, 335 East Twenty-fourth
street, twelve Holsters, $50; Frank Belsky,
1903 Avenue 4. two Holsters, $40; John
Wrightmey, 1887 Avenue A, thirteen lob
STEERS, So; Charles Strang, 81 East Seventy
first street, twelve Holsters, $50; Joseph Raus-
bosck and August Rausbosck Of 43l East
molka, PA East seventy first street, and
Louis Valenta, 1868 Avenue A, thirty Holsters
jointly, $50. The 100 Holsters and twenty six
pots were CunflsCated.