The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-13

cran+s j., foe s21. us So
Conversions of leases into grants :, 400 60
~ i 8 go .. 24,956 90
625 90
bi ant ~, oid leases 5s.2lS O2
Pentais :, naur licenses .. SIS 80
Total 100, 766 80
The Commissioner go on to say that as
anticipated in their last report. the I'M
proved condition of business has increased
the demand for riparian lands. Inc
grants in fees during the year just closed
aggregated 50, 5000 in excess OF those
made during the preceding year. lnqulr-
les are now pending before the Board
that involve transactions of large magnl-
tude.
An interesting piece of news is then told
and one which the Commissioners very
properly speak with pride. II appears
that during the past year they continued
the inspection of State Riparian GROUNDS
and discovered thousands of dollars
worth of riparian property held by per
sons who had never purchased or leased
If Large wharyes. b~ulkheads and other
structures have been built on the states
property without right or compensation
These trespassers have been brought 10
book and the riparian fund will IN conse-
.ouence be enriched by many thousands OF
dollars. In many cases the occupation OF
the States property was made in lgnor-
ance of the law. The Commissioners
have in all cases been disposed to take
the lenient view of the case.
The report next touches the Palisades
matter, and at the outset says that they
have inserted in the two leases of land IN
front of the Palisades the following pro-
viso:-
nAnd also provided. that the lands under
water hereby leased shall not be used
nv the said his heirs or assigns,
for any use. occupation, purpose, work,
business or trade, or a connection with or
for the encouragement aid or promotion
of any use, purpose, occupation, work,
business or trade which shall be injurious
TO or destructive of the Palisades, or
which shall break or destroy or impair the
uniformity and continuity of the Pail
sades."
Two leases. say the Commissioners,
have been made under the act of 1885 for
the protection of the Palisades. of lands
under water in front of them to Messrs.
Brown and Flemings and John a
Treanor, but both leases have been de-
clared forfeited by the Riparian Commis-
sionsrs on the ground that they We're vlo-
I&tiDg the law. and agreement by plastlng
lie elf and the river. The Riparian
Commissioners held that the slope OF YER
dare-clad broken rocks constlIufed some
Of the principal charms of the Palisades
scenery, and that the Legislature mad It's
preservation from despoilment in mlnd
wren it enacted the act before mentioned.
Suits. therefore, are pending against the
lessees, and the Attorney General Will
press them to a speedy conelusion.
in order" the report says, however,
that any obscurity or doubt as to the
scope and meaning of the law may be
removed, the Commissioners respectfully
suggest that your Excellency recommend
the LEGISLATURE to pass an act specifically
including the scope as well as the escarp-
ment in the inhibitory law. The Commls-
sioners nave decided to make no more
grants or leases of lands under water in
front of the Palisades until this obscurity
or doubt be removed. If the suggested
law be passed the Palisades VIII GER
tainly be protected against further de-
facenent, so far as the States ownership
of riparian lands in front Of them ex-
tends. This includes about five and a half
miles, or one-half of the Palisades within
the limits of New Jersey"
The Commissioners next take up the
oyster industry OF the state ana MAKE
ing of the beds. The extent and value OF
this industry, the Commissioners say, are
not generally appreciated BY the citizens
of this State. In view of the threatened
exhaustion of the natural oyster beds OF
this State and the destruction of the oys-
ter industry under the wasteful system
l1tdl lON PltNdAio, II hsAo lRNNt
that a comprehensive law be enacted pro-
viding for the more proyident use OF these
natural beds. and for the mere systematic
regulation of the oyster industry. The en-
fcrcement of the act and the control of
the business should devolve on the Ripar-
ian Commissioners, who go on to say
9TH Commission that was appointed
by the LEGISLATURE in 1884, to examine
into the difficulties existing among the
oysterlnen of Maurice River Cove ana Der
aware Bay made an exhaustive mvesll-
gallon of the whole subject, and among
other things saidEDelaware Bay is one
of the natural homes of the oyster in
this country. The territory within the
bay where oysters will naturally grow or
can be proftably cultivated is about 200
square miles. Between 800 and 500 yes
sells. carrying crews from three to ten
men each. are engaged in the business,
and as appears by the last census the
annual value of the oyster crop IS about
81. 600. 600. The total value of the oyster
crop of New Jersey is a little snort OF
$4,000. 0G0 per year.
part of the report by saying that they
strongly recommend that the oyster
lands in Maurice River Cove and Della,
ware Bay be placed under State control
as necessary to their preservation. CQn-
necticut, Delaware. Maryland and Vir-
ginia. all having large oyster interests,
and satisfaction of their citizens. A law
should BE enacted providing for the leas-
jands TO be used efor the cultivation Of
oysters and for which a small annual rent
per acre should be charged. All vessels
engaged in the business should pay
a tonnage tax e the State and
receive licenses. Proper regulations
FIR the use of the bay and
sor the protection of the natural oysters
should be made and should include the
powersr to prohibit dredging on the natu-
raI oyster. grounds for a time; the INTRO
vision for replenishing the oyster beds
with shells at the States expense. Fi-
aa1lv--rhe Commissioners suggest that in
.ase the oyster beds are PLACED under
State control the State should acquire
tide bv condemnation to the lands COW
sred BY riparian grants, to the end that
III the oyster territory may be held by
he State and the uses thereof regulated
I'M tho benefit of all its. citizens.
Appended to the report is a review OF
he able and most efficient pds1 It n en-,
;xefches the negotiations in reference to
arc ssier line extension. examinations OF
marian lands and other matters OF BUSH
ices transacted.
Nh. O. s. HAsKELL's ILLNESS.