The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-15
OYSTER FIGHT ENDED
AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTIES
LITIGANT SUBMITTED TO COUNTY.
BOARD HELD MEETING.
TO CONSIDER WILMINGTON RIVER
OYSTER LEASES.

the Pipe of Peace-BOth Sides Dis
posed TO be ReasOnnbIe-By Terms
of Agreement All May Gather Oss-
tiers for Their own Consumption.
County Attorney Was Prepared
for a Fight-The Board is NOJ
Worrying Over the Likelihood of
Litigation as the Outcome of
Their DecIinatjOn to Approve Ex-
pert Accountants Bill.
At special meeting of the County
Commissioners yesterday, for the pur-
pose of hearing the caveat of the resi-
dents of Wilmington Island to the ap-
plications for certain oyster leases
which were made a short time ago to
the commissioners, the matters in dis
pute were announced settled and the
county fathers were asked to pass the
matter. The request was granted and
it took that course.
The question being an important one,
and not being ripe for consideration
and argument at the last meeting, the
commissioners thought it wise to set
day for the determination of the dis
pulS. lie dppllCdllOHS lOT IH6 TlBHI
to tong oysters on certain beds in the
Half Moon river were made to the
commissioners by certain residents of
the island, through their attorneys,
Beckett & Beckett. The grant of the
leases was resisted by other residents
of the vicinity, who, through their at
torney, Robert L. Colding, contended
he nod
having existed in their present state
for more than thirty years.
How Settlement Was Made.
BY the terms of settlement the cav
Gators to the application withdrew all
objection to the grant of the leases,
with the understanding that the par
ties to whom such rights were grant
ed would tong the bivalves only for
their own consumption. The agree
ment was perfectly satisfactory to all
parties, the caVeators contending that
they were not doing a dog in the
manger act, but rather wished that
the beds should not be tonged in such
manner that they themselves would
soon have no source of supply. The re-
sistance of the claim was induced, they
say only by desire for self protec-
ton. The applicants say that they do
market, and that the agreement
reached affords mutual protection.
When it was announced that the set
Element had been reached, the COM
missioners asked that the agreement
be drawn up and submitted to them
at their next meeting. This will be
done, and the much mooted question
of oyster rights on the island will be
for time at least settled.
County Attorneys Opinion.
County Attorney Cam was prepared
to render a decision adverse to the
contention of the caveators, since by
a very recent decision of the Supreme
Court it Is held that the cayeat shall
be sustained in no case, except where
the party filing the caveat shall have
planted the beds involved in the dis
pute. This was the decision of the
court In the case of Parsons against
Prey, which was carried to the Supreme
Court from this county, and in which
the letter.
Before the open meeting, the com
missioners met in caucus for about
an hour. 1t was submitted that the
garbage contract which had been
drawn up between the city and the
board had been completed, and needed
but few changes of being in final form.
AAICSS CIldilStS Will De made, and the
contract will be before the board for
its action at the next meeting. No
action was taken in the matter of con-
domination of the West End route.
though it was informally discussed
This matter also was reserved for the
regular meeting.
Officers Bonds Approved,
The bonds of Thomas f. Thomson.
tax collector, and of Marcus S. Baker,
receiver of tax returns, were approved
| by the commissioners. They were re-
| ceived by the ordinary and submitted
| to the commissioners by him. Mr..
Thomson is required to give two
bonds of $4,000 each, one to the state
| and the other to the county, whereas
| Mr.. Baker gives one bond of $4,000 to
| the state.
eThe commissioners are not Worrying
| over the probability of litigation over
their refusal to approve the account of
j. j. Gaudry for services as examiner
! of the county officers books. They
| have been advised that there is no le-
gal authority to enforce The payment
| OF the claim, and do not worry about
the outcome of the case. Under the
law, it is said, the board is required
| to advertise for all work which entails
! an expense of $500, or more, to the