Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-10
war CLOUDS PASSING AWAY
New Jersey Sturgeon Fisher
men Advised Not to Fight.
HAD BLOOD IN THEIR EYES"
And Wanted to Whip the State
of Delaware.


The threatened war between New
Jersey and Delaware over tho right Of
residents of the former State TO fish for
sturgeon along the shore Of the State Of
Delaware. south of an imaginary line
from bombay Hook 10 Cobansoy Point,
will in Hil probability be averted
through the diplomacy Of Gov. Foster
M. Voorhees, and Attorney. General
Samuel II. Grey of New Jersey. These
officials met committee from the New
Jersey Sturgeon Fishermen's Protective
Association at Mr.. Grey office in Cam
den yesterday, and after listening TO the
grievances of the men who capture the
Hucculent sturgeon they advised that an
effort be made to settle the existing
differences by arbitration. Should that
plan fail then it is probable that the
dispute will be carried into the United
States courts TO determine how far the
jurisdiction of the State of Delaware
extends over Delaware Bay. In that
event tho New Jersey Legislature may
also he asked 10 pass retaliatory laws to
prevent Delaware fishermen from pcr-
suing their vocation In tho waters over
which the State of New Jersey claims a
sovereign right.
The committee from the Sturgeon
Fishermen's Protective Association,
which met Gov. Voorhees, and Attorney.
General Grey for tho purpose Of holding
conference on tha question. was com
posed OF James Stromple and II. Il.
SouerB of Pedricktown; James Smalley
and q. ID. Shannon of penn's Grove,
and Luke CARL of lIaDcock's Bridge.
They were accompanied by Senator
Miller and AEsemblymab Crispin of
Salem county. and the members Of the
belegation had blood in their eyes when
they reached Camden. They wers con
iidept that their rights as citizens of
The United States were being trampled
upon by the State of Delaware. and
they talked as though they would have
been greatly pleaset had Gov, Voorhees,
then and thsrs derarod war betw cen
the two States. But the wise counsel
and firm assurances of Gov Voorhees,
and Attorney. General Grey that they
would see that the rights Of the fisher-
men were protected and the dispute
Hmicably adjusted, went a long ways
toward calming the excited feelings OF
the members Of the delegation, and
they went hack home in more peace
iul frame OF mind.
During the conference Mr.. Shannon
presented letter from Fish Cummis.
6ioner j. Stanley Short OF Delaware. in
which he SAID that he had been ordered
by the attorney general Uf that State
10 strictly enforce this snring the law
prohibiting non residents from tishin G
in Delaware waters below i3ombh y
Hook. Other memherH of the delegation
told with some vehemence how Della
ware had provided patrol boat with 30
armed men for the purpose of arresting
all New Jersey fishermen and ConiiBcat'
ing their boats and nets when found in
the waters ovHr which the State of
Delaware claimed exclusive juris-
dictiou. 1t was claimed by the fisher
men that the prohibitory law Of Dela-
ware was unconstitutional, and tDat
no attempt had been made to enforce it
for the past 12 years. 1t WAS also
charged that the attempt TO have the
obnoxious measure put in operation
again was instigated by former resi-
dents of Salem county, who had re-.
moved to Delaware for the purpose of
taking advantage of the law and secur.
ing a monopoly Of the sturgeon fishing
business by driving their former neigh
bors out of the business. Attention
was also called to the manifest unfair
mesa of the Delaware law, which pro
hibiteh non residents from fishing n
fhBt State, while tine Delaware fisher
men were freely granted the privilege
of fishing for shnd on the Jersey side of
the channAl. 1t nppsara that the sbad
fishing is nest on the Jersey shore.
while the sturgeon feeding grounds are
along the coast of Delaware.
Gov. Voorhees, listened patiently tn
ihe fishermen and won the hearts Of all
of them ny bis attention, good humor
and sensible suggestions. He advised
them to present their case to him in
writing, as soon as possible, accom-
panied by explanatory charts of the
sturgeon fishing district, and promised
to look after AMI protect their interests
as far aa lay in his power. This pleased
the gentlemen Of the delegation beyond
measure, but their cup Of Joy oyertlowed
when Gov. Voorhees, promised to visit
them during the sturgeon season and
witness the wonderful development oi
their business during the past few
years. The members of the delegation
said they would make it pleasant fol
the Governor. and if he makes the trip
Salem county will be solid for him fol
a full term as Chief Executive of the
State.
Attorney. General Grey and Gov.
Voorhees, explained to the delegation ol
fishermen that they weru not thoroughly
familiar win tn6 laws OF DelaWare re
garding the rights of residents Of othel
States to fish in the waters of the State
OF Delaware, but they stated that they
would thoroughly acquaint themselves
with the situation. Attorney Genera
Grey also suggested that the proper
manner TO settle the dispute would bs
by arbitration, and he suggested the
appointment OF commission by Gov.
Voorhees, TO treat with similar com
mission appointed by the Governor o
Delaware. Gov. Voorhees, indorsed tht
suggestion as being a most excellen
one and it also received the approval o
the members Of the delegation OF fisher
men present. In view of that fact Guv
Voorhees, will in all probability call tn,
attention OF tine Legislature TO thu
matter and follow out the line If actor
suggested by Attorney General Grey.
4 Both Gov. Voorhees, and Attorney
General Grey advised the fishermen no
81 10 resort to the use of fiteurms The.
~ said that il an amicabe agreement coulG
H& not be eutered into, probably i
S would then be we'll to adopt retaliator.
measures or go TO law about the matte
& to determine what jurisdiction th
State of Delaware had over the water
10 dispute. AZ they understood th
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