Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-03

Philadelphia Ledger Special.
penn's Grove, N. j., Feb. %. The
sturgeon fishermen of the lower Della
ware River and bay are now confronted
with situation of far more serious,
ness TO their financial interests than
the threatened rupture between the
Jersey ana Delaware fishermen in the
rumor current, which has general
credence in some quarters, TO the effect
that owing to the disposition of the
German government 10 restrict the i'm
portation OF certain American articles,
il 10 probable that tho caviar of tho
sturgeon may be listed among the in
terdicted exports. Ii is stated on good
suthority that notification to this effect
has been received by an exporter of
caviar, and the fishermen have been on
the anxious bench for several days
awaiting either denial or coniirma-
tion OF tho rumor. Such action on the
part OF the German government would
mean the practical destruction of the
vast sturgeon fishing industry in this
country, and particularly in the Della
ware, which Is recognized as the best
sturgeon waters Of the country, Ger
many has for years contracted with the
various sturgeon firms for all the caviar
that could be prepared, and the supply
not being equal to the demand the price
per keg has advanced SO rapidly that
last year the firms duirg busine IS with
the large houses OF Germany received
as high as $50 keg for the caviar.
The fears of tine fishermen. however,
on this point, have been somewhat set
at rest 10y the statement of Cant.
George ID. Shannon, secretary OF the
Sturgeon Fishermen's Protective Asso
citation, who is the largest exporter in
this section. Last year ne exported
nearly $50, 600 worth of caviar TO Ger
many alone. and yesterday he received
communication from Que of the
largest caviar houses in Germany. seek
ing a contract with him for thsiI
supply, stating that their representative
was on his way to New York to MAKE
the necessary arrangements.
Capt. Shannon said TO a Ledger re
porter to-day:
II believe the report concerning {
tax on caviar is utterly false and unly
malicious 10 its intent. If such actor
was contemplated / would be amonE
the first to be notified, as my interests
in the sturgeon business lie chiefly il
my dealing with tine German people IL
the expectation of caviar. Then, to
am preparing at the notification o.
the German dealers to make contract
for the coming season, and expect t,
complete my dealings with their repre-
sentative in New York next week, and
IN contradiction If the report, Their
is no better evidence than the urgen
requests OF the German dealers for th
fishermen to increase their exports,
possible, this year. Another fact tina
tends 10 discretiit the report ia that tn
consumption of caviar in Germany
very large, and it has become such
household article of food that the
can't get along without it. Last yea
there were about 5, 600 kegs of cnvia
exported to Germany from the Dela
ware River and bay firms, which, a
the average price Of $50 keg, yielde
the enormous revenue of $3.50, 600.
is obvious from these figures why tn
fishermen manifest such concern as I
the truth or falsity of thu report, bu
] am not in the least alarmed, and hf
lieve the report does not contain graf
of truth"
Since the conference between Go,
Voorhees, and Attorney General Gre
and the committee of the Sturgeo
Fishermen'a Protective Associatio
concerning the proposed enforcement
the Delaware law prohibiting Jerse
fishermen from crossing an imaginal
line in the Delaware, under a penalt,
developments have come to light whic
do not bode any good for the rights
the Jerseymen. A communication fro
the Department of Fisheries Of Dell
ware to the sturgeon fishermen of Ne
Jersey announces THAT the battle CT
has blown over. anil that the fisherme
OF New Jersey are law abiding cit
zens," and, continuing, says: "a
Jersey knows the law, and all GOO
honest fishermen have and will respe
the same"
This sort of a deliverauce does nj
suit the Jersey fishermen, and th,
now advocate the passage of a resol
tion appealing to the Legislature
pass retaliatory measure. Several
the fishermen, however, are obstinat
and propose fishing on the forbidd
territory the same as in previous year
and il arrested will appeal their ca
to the Supreme Court 10 test Il
constitutionality of Delaware's di
eliminating law.
The Jersey fishermen claim that Il
Delawareans cannot stand RESTRICT
measure on the Jersey side because &
principal catch of shad is on the Dial
ware side. and the Hhad fishermen q
mostly opponents of the cause of Jors
sturgeon fishermen, from the fact th
they constitute large portion of t
sturgeon fishing colony, and they p!
tect tho small gill nets of the sh
fishermen by catching the sturgeon
the lower bay before the sturgeon c
get up the river and work havoc amo
this sbad nets.
Capt. Shannon in this connecti
says:
1--WE propose fishing in what is call
Delaware waters, and suffering arr,
IL needs be in spite of the notices
'Jerseymen keep off. The tisherm
do not look for an extra good seas
this year. because Of the moderate
weather. but with the proposed propo.
tion Of sturgeon in the Delaware ii
year it is altogether probable that
industry will be given quite an impet
for its future success. "
n..nNnssou. - e--..s N.