Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1897-02-18
OYsTERMEN CONSULT.
A Meeting Held in Bridgeton But The
Members of The Legislature Got
no Light.

1nlrIy or 1orty OyStermen, represent |
ing captains and owners, by previous |
arrangement, met the representatives of
this district, Senator E. G. Stokes and
Assemblyman, B. HI. Minch, in the
rooms OF the Republican League, Satur-
day afternoon. The meeting was called
Ior the purpose of meeting with the
representatives an confer with them on
the proposed State Oyster bill now pend
ing before the Legislature.
Captain William Berry, Chairman of
the Delaware Bay and Maurice River
Cove Oyster Association, called the meet
ing to order and told them the object of
the meeting. He said they had met for
the purpose of comforting with our
representatives in the Legislature on the
State Oyster bill now before that body.
and also to confer on change of the
oyster law. 1t seemed that the time has
now come to demand some change of the
laws. The Executive Committee of the
Oyster Association, did not know what
to DO for the best; they we've elected to
serve their constituents and did not want
to go beyond their limit. The great
question is "What shall we do for the
best interests of the oystermen of this
locality?" The committee thought best
to meet the mem bers of the Legislature
and see what they would recommend.
'fhe present law is failure. Mr.. Berry
said 1t was also rumored among many
other things that the same captains had
said they wovld not pay their license the
coming, season as heretofore. He said
we are here to day to arrive at some con-
clusion that will be benefit to all con-
cerned. The Oyster Committee want a
law that can be enforced. The Commit
tee also want bill passed so oystermen
can appoint commissioners instead of
having commission appointed by the
Governor. The oyster interest of to-day
is what the oystermen have made it and
they don't want to lose it. They now
want something tthat they can back up
The Committee would also recommend
that instead of cutting the bay off-clos-
ing 1T for year-they shorten tie time of
the planting season four weeks, COM
menclng April 18th and ending May 3lst.
Ihey were in favor of rough Gull law.
but not this year, make it one year from
the passage of the act, and no oysters
caught after sunset or before sunrise.
Another suggestion made by the Captain
was, that all moneys received after pay
ing bills shall go toward protection and
propagation of the oyster.
Some of the men wanted the law read.
and Captain McClain, of Dorchester, Sec
retary of the Association, read the oyster
OIL, about which so much has been said.
Nearly all favored the short season of
planting. The law reads from 18th of
April to May 31st, but those who did not
favor it wanted it to read to June 18th.
They would rather commence later and
end later. The law now for plant
ing season is from April 1st to June
10th, making about ten weeks, although
many run but two months.
The recommendations made by Captain
Berry were seconded by all the COM
mlttee. This seemed to throw bomb
into the camp of the Newport oystermen,
who were there ready to fight anything
the committee brought out. 1t was plain
to be seen at an instant when Captain
William Newcomb jumped to his feet
and said he would like to know where
the committee got their authority to make
any laws, that the riparian rights owners
were doing all in their power to have the
bill passed as soon as possible and close
the bay for one year, commencing with
this season.
Captain Berry replied to Captain New
comb by saying that it was not the COM
mittee's purpose to make any law; they
only make suggestions
Captain Addison Newcomb had speci-
mems of one year growth oysters which
he showed the Senator and dAssemblyman.
He, too, was in favor of closing the bay
this year. He said it was sin to destroy
these young oysters as they were being
destroyed by the thousands. They needed
a rough Gull law and for the benefit of the
oystermen the bay should he closed. This,
he contended could be overcome by al
lowing the oysters to lay until they be-
come large enough to take up the same
season they are planted. The young
oysters should be protected, The State
should protect them.
Mr.. Newcomb illustrated his remarks
by referring to the time when the Govern
ment took hand in the seal fisheries of
Behring Straits and ordered that no old
seals be killed for year. There was
case where thousands and thousands of
young seals were being destroyed every
year. He said, in speaking of the oyster
business not being anything compared
with what it was years ago, that if all the
oystermen now in the business could
have such times as in the past they could
fill the Bridgeton and Cumberland Ma
tional banks with money.
This caused Senator Stokes to face
tiously ask whats the matter with the
Mlllville bank, too?, 'That, too" replied
Mr.. Newcomb.
In speaking of letting the oysters lay
year, some of the oystermen remarked