New-York tribune., 1900-08-21
FISH AS FERTILIZER.
PROTECTIVE LEAGUE OF SALT WATER
FISHERMEN CONDEMNS WHOLESALE
NETTING AND WASTE.

An interesting meeting Of the Protective I.earus
Of Salt Water Fishermen was held at No. los IVES,
Thirty-hrst-st last night The fishermen OF the
Atlantic seacOast are up in arms against taa
wholesale netting now being done close to shore
and a bill TO prevent this sort OF thing has bean
prepared to be presented TO the Legislature Tba
fishermen say that Senator Chauncey NJ Depew
has promised support the measure. Last year a
bill was presented and beaten asking that the SET
nets be laid ten miles from shore. The new biu
will ask for only half that distance. II was the
sentiment OF the fishermen that the American Fish
cries Company responsible for their troubles
The members of the association reported last night
that the Hudson River meters had promised % lift
their nets three days each week The treasurer's
report showed that the organization had money IN
bank. with no outstanding obligations. The on
GERS OF the association T Biedinger president:
A. haywood. vice-president; D 4. Ncsbit treas
urer: J. NJ Wheeden. recording and corresponding
secretary: z. FIiedner. financial secretary The
Board of Directors comprises J. r MnHken r.
Schmidt. c. S. Crane. l. Bsrge. H Greater. F.
Hochg-aef. sr.. and L. II. Johnson
l. Fl. Johnson. veteran fisherman. delivered
discourse fish and fishermen along the coast. 10
which the other delegates gave the closest atten-
ton. Mr.. Johnson showed that the pounds. fences
and nets in the neighborhood Of Asbury Park had
done much to destroy the pleasures OF the hsher~
men in New-York Harbor and neIghborhood Mr..
johnson did not impersOnate the Lone fisherman.
for ne particularly active in his selection of
words and gestures. He said that ne had seen hun
dreds of tons Of fish taken at one haul at Asou-y
Park. The fish mostly p0rgies and weakish.
and he said that this the reason why so few
ash OF these kinds be caught in this neigh
borhoOd at present. He said that bluehshing had
been almost destroyed along this part OF the At
Iantc Coast for the same reason Mr.. Johnson
serted that in years gone By blucdsh were so plen
tiful along the Jersey that the natives sated
them down for winter consumption And, con-
tinUed Mr.. Johnson. Il tell you that salted blue
fish is mighty near as good as salt mackereL
According to the same authority. the nets near
AsDurv Park were recently destroyed BY storm.
The next day Mr.. Johnson and party OF friends
thought that they would try little fishing He
said that ne alone had caught thirty-four elueish
in one hour. Mr. johnson said that before the prO-
fesslonal netters and Founders took possession %
the waters between four thousand and six thou
sand people along the Jersey coast followed .sh-
ing as a vocation They went out in boats Two
and some times four in boat, ana their haul vas
generally sufficient TO pay them for their trouole
Now those thousands are compelled to do farm
labor 10 keep the wolf from the door.
President Biedinger indOrsed az that the learned
fisherman from AsbUry Park said. You can 80 70
the Barren Island dock any day, said Mr. Biedin-
ger 'and find tons of hsh being taken % The
island 70 used for fertiliZing purposes I have
seen fish come there IN gigantic crates sun pacssd
with ice. the crates not having been opened The
workmen break off big chunks o. fish and take
them home 1t is just as good FISH as can be bought
in the market. The dealers simply want % keep
way Recently two carloads Of hSh were SEM 70
this city. and the wholesale dealer 70 Wnom they
were sent accepted only one OF the cars He had
the other returned 20 the original shippers Now
dug hole IN the sands and dumped in the fish to
rot The farmers along the Hudson have promised
not to fertiliZe with fish any nOre, and / believe
they are keeping their word