Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-09-19
Tide Meadows.

Mr.. EDITOR
In the DEMOCRAT of the 9Th inst, there
was paragraph about cunning for reed ano
rail birds on Woodbury. creek, etc., and &
piece signed ]. M. H., quoting the decision:
of the Riparian Commissioners of the State
Of New Jersey.
have known the meadows in question
ever since it has been s'to the tide," and
know something of the troubles, trials and
losses of the owners and tenants Of the
farms adjacent to the meadows. Soon after
they went "out" the people Of the neigh
borhood thought them public property, or,
at least, there was more pasture there than
the owners could consume, and they wished
to pasture their cattle there, and If denied
the privilege were offended, consequently
large herd Of cattle was collected there.
''Sportsmen" thought they had the right
to gun there too, and would come and
climb the fences and break them down OF
lay off the 'rider" and thus let the cattle
in the farmers cornfelds and truck patches
This was bad enough on weekdays, but
worse on Sunday, for Sunday brought g
worse element to gun and the farmer had
to stay at home and be constantly on the
watch to protect his crops. Some of the
gunners would not hesitate to shoot COW
il by SO doing they could bag bird
Owners were compelled to remove theil
cattle from the meadows in the height o.
cunning season or run the risk of having
them shot.
The meadows make a good range fol
poultry, especially for ducks, but the profits
were greatly reduced by gunners baggine
the poultry. Some gunners become greatly
excited when they see game and shoo
widely and carelessly. A farmer told me
it was not safe for his family to be undel
their shed when the gunners were about a!
they would not hesitate to shoot at thu
house if the game was in that direction
Another farmer placed high board fence
between his house and the meadows, tt
protect his children at play in the yard
Some of the farmers were shot while a
work in the field. Many Of the gunner
were lawiess characters, and made raids OF
the farmers truck patches and fruit or
chards.
Many of the owners of the meadows OWL
farms adjoining the same. They are young
industrious men, striving hard to pay fol-
their farms that they and their families Cal
have homes in their old age. They have
rented some OF the meadows to certain
parties to assist them to pay for the mea
dows for which they are taxed. Said parties
have hired officers to protect their interest
see in a recent issue of the Philadelphia
Inquirer that Woodbury. sport has arrested
one of the officers for protecting his EN-
ployers interests, and will take the matter
to Court to see if he cannot prove by Law
that he has a right to gun on said meadows
thus showing desire to throw the meadows
open to the public to gun over and subject
the owners to all the grievances have
mentioned
J. M. H. chooses his article by saying ''St
you will see, Mr.. Editor, under the law
tide waters are no longer the Kings high
way, but the highway of liberty lovin,
freemen." Will J. NJ. H. permit me t.
remind him of law from higher sourc
than the King of England, namely, tn
Bible-'Thou shalt love thy neighbor a
myself J. T. B.