New-York tribune., 1902-12-18
FISHMONGERS YIELD.
L0zU Tells Association Al Dealers
Should Be IN One Place.

George 7. Moon OF the Fulton Market Fish
mongers' Association, told a Tribune reporter
last night that his association, result of
the hearing before the Sinking Fund Commits
, sioners yesterday, would effect some arrange
ment with the Wholesale Fish Exchange and
the Independent Fish Dealers Association to
divide wharf room accorded the fish dealers by
the city, and build a new fish market, to be
jointly occupied by all the dealers
THE apparent unwillingness of the city to re-
new our lease will make it necessary for US to
allow the younger organizations to come in on
some terms" said Mr.. Moon.
The fish dealers out in force yesterday
afternoon, and their counsel talked to the Sink
ing Fund Commissioners for two or three hours.
Mr.. Moon was subjected to rigid questioning by
Mayor Low and Controller Grout, who told him
that the city, while respecting the solid dnan-
cial character of the Fishmongers' Association,
was disposed to provide one place for all the
fish dealers, and that all the dealers must have
opportunity to conduct their business that
the Street Cleaning and Health departments
would not have occasion to find fault, as at
present.
The Ffshmongers Association, consisting of
eighteen firms occupies its present quarters, at
Beekman and South SITS, on a lease made by the
city in 1869. The fish business has grown tre-
mendously since then, and the newcomers in the
DuSliieSs nave iido SIedt uiAiiCuitS III hiiNiAS
room. Some of them rented stores on the west
side of South-st. and in Beekman-st-, and did
business practically in the street. Commits
sioner Woodbury. of the Street Cleaning Depart
ment came down hard them, and they ap-
pealed to the city for accommodations, alleging
that the Fishmongers' Association was a monop-
oily, and that the city not receiving an
adequate return for the wharf used by it.
In accordance with the views Of the Sinking
Fund Commission, Dock Commissioner Hawkes.
has submitted to the Mayor what he calls a
united plan" 1t permits the widening OF
South-st., and eliminates any necessity for the
Fulton Market Fishmongers Association to
transfer its spaces and stalls to booths on piers
It provides better accommodations for the fish,
mongers than those possessed by the as
ISOLATION along the bulkhead, and also gives
satisfactory accommodations to the Wholesale
Fish Exchange by providing for the sixteen
members Of the exchange booths or spaces on
the pier adjoining Fulton Ferry. Small space
for small booths is left for the Independent Fish
Dealers Association. If the wholesale business
OF this association be found to warrant 1t.
Regarding this plan Commissioner Hawkes.
says:
Old Pier No o. as shown on Map "a" is
owned by the city, is also the land under
water covered by the platform at present occu-
pied by the fish market The southerly half Of old
Pier No. % is owned by the city. the northerly
half by private parties, is also the bulkhead
between old Piers Nos. % and "a. 1t would be
necessary for the city to institute condemna-
ton proceedings for the acquisition Of the pri-
vate interests before the united plan" could be
put into effect, and as the present lease of the
Fulton Market Fishmongers' Association does
not expire until May /. 1905 It would be well,
think 70 have the leases to the various
associations begin at that time, by that time
the lease to the Fulton Market Fishmongers'
Association will have expired. and the private
property necessary for the prosecution OF the
ha lyyT n16p pr11r7a az m rD-
ceedings.
Commissioner Hawkes. will hold e. conference
with the fish dealers and submit new report to
the Sinking Fund Commission.