The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-07
War CLOUDS PASS AWAY
Governor Voorhees, Advises
Sturgeon Fishermen Not to
Fight and Promises to
Look After Their
Interests.
Isnecial "a ..rhe 1ersex clty News."l

Especial to "The Jersey City News.'1
CAMDEN, Feb. {, 1S9S.-The threatened
war between NeY Jersey and Delaware
over the right of residents of the former
State to fish for sturgeon along the siore
of the State of Delaware, south OF an I'M
aginary line from Bombay Hook to Co
hansey Point, will in all probability be
averted through the diplomacy OF Cover
nor Foster NJ. Voorhees, and Attorney
General Samuel H. Grey, OF New -Jer-
sey. The latter officials met a
from the New Jersey Sturgeon Fisher
mems Protective Association at Mr..
Crews office. in Camden, Saturday. and
after listening to the grievances of the
men who capture the s%ucculent sturgeon
they advised that an effort be mace TO
settle the existing differences by arpltra-
ton. Should that plan fail then 1t IS
probable that the dispute will be carried
into the United States Courts to deter-
mine how far the jurisdiction OF the state
of Delaware extends over Delaware Bay.
In that event the New Jersey Legislature
may also be asked to pass retaiiatory
avs to prevent Delaware fishermen from
pursuing their vocation in the waters
over which the State of New Jersey
claims a sovereign right
The committee from the Sturgeon Fish
ermen's Protective Association, whlch
| met Governor voorhees, and Attorney
| General Grey for the purpose OF holding
| q conference on the question, was COM
posed of James Strimple and E.. r. SOM
| ers. of Pedricktown; James Smalley ana
G. D. Shannon. of Pennsgrove, and Luke
| Carl. of Hancock's Ridge. They were
| ompan by Senator Miller n As
| semblvman Crispin, of Salem County,
and the members Of the delegation had
blood in their eyes when they reached
| Camden They were confident 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
! pleased had Governor voorhees, then
! and there declared war between the
two States. But the wise counse ana
firm assurances of Governor voorhees,
| and Attorney General Grey that they
| would see that the rights of the hsher-
mon were protected, and the dispute
! amicably adjusted, went a long ways To-
ward calming the excited feelings OF the
members of the delegation. and they
went back home in a more peaceful frame
| of mind.
During the conference Mr.. Shannon
presented a letter from Fish Commis-
sioner ]. Stanley Short, of IN
which he said hat he had been ordered
| by the Attorney General of thai State to
strictly enforce this spring the law pro-
hibiting non-residents from fishing III
| Delaware waters below Bombay Hook
Others members of the delegation told
with some how Delaware had
| provided a patrol boat with thirty armed
men for the purpose of arresting all New
| Jersey fishermen and confscating thelf
! hoafs and nets when found in the waters
over which the State of Delaware. claimed
exclusive jurisdiction. 1t was claimed by
the fshemen thai the prohibitory law OF
| delaware was unconstitutional, and that
no attempt had been made tor enforce II
for the past twelve years. 1t was also
charged that the attempt to have the op-
noxious measure put in operation again
was i~nstigated by former residents OF
Salem county. who had removed to Della
ware for the purpose of taking advantage
of the law n securing a monopoly OF
the sturgeon fishing business by driving
their former neighbors out of the basl-
ness. Attention was also called TO the
manifest unfairness of the Delaware law
which prohibited non-residents from fsh-
ing in that State, while the Deiaware
fishermen were freely granted the PRIV
flege of fishing for shad on the Jersey
side of the channel. 1t appears that tht
| shad fishing is best on the Jersey shore
while the sturgeon feeding round are
along the coast OF Delaware.
Governor VOORHEES, listened patiently tc
the fishermen and won the hearts of al
of them by his attention, good hunor ano
sensible suggestions. He advised them
to present their case to him IN wrltihs
as soon as possible, accompanied by ex'
planatory charts of the sturgeon flsnlna
district, and promised to look after ans
protect their interests as far as lay IN ms
power. This pleased the gentlemen OF the
delegation beyond measure. but their cuI
of 10y overaowed when Governor Veor'
hees promised to visit them during tht
sturgeon season and witness the Wonder
fin development of their business during
thu mast few wears. The member of thu
ssalneatinn said they would make II pleas
ant for the Governor, anu II ne MAKES Lns
trin Salem county will be solid for him fol
! f,lI ferm as Chief Executive or the
State.
epTr mp al pph EMPIRE EXPRESS