The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-01-19


A short time ago it was announced that
the Secretary of War had sent to the
House of Representatives the report OF
the Chief of Engineers of preliminary
surveys, made under authority of the
River and Harbor act, of Barnegat Bay
and Tuckerton creek, recommending the
latter, but condemning the former A
Washington dispatch gives this additional
information.
In the case of Barnegat Bay the desired
survey is of stretch between Bay Head
and the small town of Mantoloking, dis
lance of q miles. The engineer off,
GERS do not think the present and pro
spective commercial interests of the local
ity warrant the expenditure on the Part
of the Government to improve the navi-
cation. Lieutenant Cosby, who made the
survey of Tuckerton creek, under d.
rection of Major Raymond, makes an in
teresting report on Tuckerton and the con-
tiguous country.
Tuckerton is at the head of the creek of
that name, about two miles from its
mouth, which opens into Barnegat Bay.
The town has population of I,4OO and
has been port of entry for over 100
years, though it now has no foreign com
nerce. In the twenty years prior to 1882
sixty vessels of from 80 to 500 tons burden,
were built in Tuckerton. Since 1882 this
business has been abandoned, mainly for
the shoaling of the creek. Small boats,
however, are still built there. One of the
objects of the desired improvement is the
construction of ways for repairing vessels
Tuckerton's principal industry is the
oyster and clam trade, which is large and
steadily increasing in amount. Little
Egg Harbor and the neighboring waters
TEEN with oysters and clans, and Tucker
ton is the most convenient point through
which they can reach the markets Be-
tween ninety and one hundred boats of
from six to forty TONS having maximum
draft of SIX feet when loaded, are now en-
gagged in this trade. Formerly vessels of
burden were employed, but the increasing
shallowness of the creek compelled their
disuse. The business continues all the
year round, but annoying and expensive
delays occur on account of the shallow
water.
Ii the depth of water permitted the use
Of larger vessels the business would be
rendered more profitable and certain. In
1895 the oysters and clans brought up
Tuckerton creek and shipped over the
railroad amounted to 10,9S6,610 pounds,
valued at $4,000. More oysters are
planted than ever before, and it is esti-
mated that the business is growing in
value at the rate of $25, 900 per year. A
small fishing business is also carried on to
the value of about So, 600 per year. Near
Little Harbor are two menhaden fish
factories. which produce large quantities
of oil, which product could be shipped in
vessels that could go up the creek if there
was sufficient depth of water. Beach
Haven, summer resort on the opposite
side of Little Egg Harbor, is twenty miles
by railroad and only seven miles by
water.
The improvement of Tuckerton creek
would enable boats to ply between Tuck
erton and Beach Haven and Atlantic
City, and if made it is proposed to run a
small steamer between these points.
The improvement desired in Tuckerton
creek is the dredging of channel having
a low water depth of feet from the
upper landing in the town to the lower
landing, 400 yards below, and from there
to Gauntt's Point, of channel feet
deep at mean low water. each having
bottom of rs feet.