The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-17
SHOULD A FISH BE
CAUGHT BY THE GlLlS?
THE QUESTION ENGAGED The ATTENTION
or THE FISH COMMITTEE.
Gill net Fisherman can Stretch their Nets fa m
20 to 80 feet Under the Substitute
for Chapter 81 Laws Of 1897.

For nearly three hours on yesterday
afternoon a joint committee of the Sen
ate and House on Fish and Fisheries,
heard a hot discussion between counsel
as to whether gill nets should be 20
yards long or so feet long, in Albemarle
Sound TO the uplander the difference
seemed merely one of length, but coun-
sci explained that to those who fish it
meant all the difference between power
tx and prosperity That counsel was
right the committee agreed and will
recommend that the nets be permitted
to be made so feet long.
w. NJ. Bond Esq, of Edenton, repre-
scented the gill net fishermen, and w. ID.
Pruden. Esq, also of Edenton, repre-
scented the seine fishing interests. The
contest before the committee was
brought about by Senator Miller's bill
to repeal chapter II Of the public laws
of 1897, which forbids the setting of
gill nets more than 20 yards long in Al
bemarle Sound
Mr.. Il. ID. Winston. representative
from BERTHE, appeared before the COM
mittee and asked that a reasonable time
be given both sides to appear before the
committee and present data. He felt
that the gentlemen owning large fish
ing interests should have a hearing. He
did not, he said, ask the committee to
adopt any time of action, but merely to
hear both sides of the question.
Mr.. Pruden, for the seiIiee interests.
said he had no desire to hinder an in
vestigation. He represented, however, a
number of gentlemen who had thou
sands of dollars invested in fishing in
terests, and desired that the committee
should set a day when they could be
heard. He stated that he had been en-
gagged in an effort to adjust the rival
interests, but negotiations had, for some
reason been broken off. He thought at
least a week would be required to col
lect the data his clients wished to pre-
sent.
Mr. Bond, who advocated the repeal
of the law, said he did not object to
showing courtesy than had been extend
ed his clients when the bill had first
been passed. He asked Mr.. Pruden if
he did not represent DR.. William X.
Capehart. John G. Wood, Frank Wood
and Hal Wood, and received an affirma-
tive answer.
Mr. Bond said that when the bill was
passed the only notice his clients receiv
ed was the statement in a paper that
the bill was on it's third reading. At the
instance of james Ii. Woodland, +. X.
Wimslow. Il. II. Simpson and ]. X.
Ray, he came to Raleigh, appeared be-
fore the committee and asked for n re-
consideration and it was refused.
Finally with the assistance of Theo-
philus White he had secured a conces-
sion that the bill should not become
operative Immediately. He was inform
ed that many who signed the petition
presented in behalf of the original law
misunderstood what the effect of the
law was to be. 1t was supposed to be
aimed at non resident fishermen but it
hurt others as WELL After the passage
of the bill Mr.. Woodland had been fined
in the courts Of BERTHE for fishing off
the coast of Chowan with 20 foot nets
tied together.
He stated that the fishing season was
now on, and every days delay meant
loss to the small fishermen. He would
agree to any delay asked for if his
clients were allowed to fish in the mean
time.
Mr.. Pruden said that the claim was
made by his clients that the gill nets
hedged the seines so that no fish could
get up to them. TO permit their use
meant the ruin of the men who operate
the seins.
Capt PEBBLES spoke briefly against the
repeal of the law, though he stated that
he did not appear as an attorney.
Mr.. Bond asked that Il substitute for
the present law allowing gill nets so
feet long to be used pending final adj
iustment of the matter. This could not
njure the seine interests as the seines
We're not started until March the first.
a vote was taken on the substitute
offered by Mr.. Bond, and it was unani-
mously decided to recommend the sub
stitute.
The attorneys several times during the
discussion exchanged sharp thrusts.