Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-05-11
GOVERNOR STOKES
HAD A GOOD TIME


Governor Stokes and his party arrived
at Maurice River, on the Delaware
Bay. They were to go forth the next
morning. May 1, to witness the open
ing Of the seeding season on the Mau-
rice Cove oyster grounds. Five min
utes after they stepped from the train
found them aboard the Cypher. a trim
little steam yacht owned by the New
4 Jersey Oyster Commission. Darkness
had by that time settled over South
Jersey. There was no moon. Not
even an oyster chirped, as Jimmy Ker-
ney. the editor of the Trenton Times,
observed. The Governor explained
that South Jersey oysters knew enough
to keep quiet when newspaper men
were about. There were two of them
in the party. Mr.. Kerney and the cor
respondent OF the News. They de-
cided to say no more.
Dinner was served at once in the
pilot-house of the Cypher. Frank
Miller, round and jolly colored chef,
Of Bridgeton, was master of ceremon-
les. He evidently had expected a
party OF hungry men, judging by the
appearance of the table, and he was
not disappointed. A heaving platter
of fried oysters disappeared like snow
before the April sun, and the execu-
tion done on the planked shad and
fried chicken was amazing. Harry
Leeds, of Atlantic City, was chief
executioner. The rest of the party,
the Governor, Road Commissioner
Elijah @. Hutchinson, Editor Kerney,
Edward w. Gray, the Governor IS Sec
retary; Captain Tom Austin, post
master of Millville, and former
oyster commissioner, and the News
man required no squirting on. The
Delaware Bay air seemed to get in it's
fine work at the start, and appetite
was not lacking.
1t was at this meal that Governor
Stokes confessed that he never ate
oysters. No other man in public life
In the State has done so much for the
oyster industry or has been so closely
identified with the making of oyster
laws, as has Governor Stokes, and no
man is more interested than he in the
oyster industry. Yet the luscious BIZ
valve finds no sympathy in his CASTRO
nomic process. He simply can't eat
oysters, he says.
Meanwhile the Cypher had left her
moorings and was headed up the bay.
Captain Bell explained that he wanted
to lay over night in small creek, SO
as to be near the oyster fleet in the
morning. This point was reached
about 10 o'clock. From the yachts
deck the feet could be seen at anchor.
or, rather, its lights could be seen.
In a line stretching for miles across
the bay the lights gave the appearance
OF the water front of a great city.
1t was said there were about 800 boats
in the fleet.
AS the word was had been passed
that the party was to be up at sunrise,
1t was a case of early to- bed in the
Cypher's cabin. Editor Kerney. while
unpacking his valise, drew forth three
boxes of chewing gum. He had made
the trip last year and explained to the
News man that this was chewing
gum party" AS a. matter of fact it
was quite temperance meeting
Governor Stokes's abstinence habits
are we'll known. Ex-senator Hutch.
lnson looks not upon the wine when
it is any color, and. Harry Leeds, who
IS an old Quaker companion Of the
Governors, adheres to the teachings
OF his youth. Editor Kerney's tenn
perance scruples are tradition of the
correspondents Club at Trenton. 1t
was up to Secretary Gray to explain
Where ne stood, and he mumbled some-
ehlng about the early influence of
Murray on his life.
Pm willing to admit. Gray" said
the Governor, THAT you know some-
'nlng about Lindley Murray. but l
can't see how that concerns the tenn
perance question.
captain Tom Austin then winked
mysterious wink, which apparently
nad no significance for the uninitiated,
put the true meaning of which was
revealed the next day by locker in
the cabin.
rive O'Clock Monday morning found
81 hands on deck. The day was clear
ana bracing wind blew across the
usy from the west. The sCypher was
soon under full steam after the fleet.
airlse on the oyster ground on May
Is marked by the extinguishing Of
ne lights in the light houses This
= the signal to the oystermen that the
season is open and that they can 90
suead. The boats were all at work
"nen the Cypher started, Monday