Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-15

sent to the,legislature yesterday there
is one that interests ten of thousands
of people outside the limits of the
state. 1t is in reference to the men
baden steamers that swoop down up
on the coast all summer long, de
strOying not only the menhaden, but
food fish as well. The menhaden is
useful as a fertilizer, and is captured
for that purpose, but, unfortunately,
it is the natural food of some food
fish, notably the bluefish, and when
the schools of menhaden are swept
away the bluefish has to seek other.
waters. As a matter of fact this de
licious fish has about disappeared
from the New Jersey waters, where
rs it formerly was there in great
numbers, affording amusement and
recreation to the casual fisherman
and profit TO the market fisherman.
Governor Stokes recommends the
repeal of the act of March 26, 1896,
which permits the taking Of menha-
den and other fish by means of net
from the waters of this state and
iIOllI the -Alldllllt ONtOll Nllllll NlICC
nautical miles of the coast. The Phil
adelphia Inquirer, on commencing
this recommendation of the governor
says:
That act makes fishing for men
baden legal within three miles of the
shore. PROFESSIONALLY its repeal is
of inheritance. But it is to be hoped
that the Legislature will go further
than mere repeal. 1t should take
what steps are necessary to forbid
a menhaden steamer to ply its de-
.structive traffic within the three-mile
limit 1t may be that it will find an
appeal for congressional action to be
essential in order to afford absolute
protection. As to that We do not
know, but if it is necessary the legis-
lature should not hesitate to call up
on it's delegation TO Washington to
press for legislation.
And ii would be well to get at
this matter as soon as possible. Let
the seashore be properly guarded the
coming summer when anglers are
numerous and the markets require
food fish in abundance"
Newark Advertiser:
1t is remarked that seldom before
was there such a slim crowd at Tren-
ton on the night preceding the begin
ming of the legislative session. Or
dinarily, the Third House" is strong
ly represented at the state capital on
Al, ,,frI,+ I,FAp. tho cncSinp and gnn-
sidering the great importance of the
matters to come before the legisla-
ture and their relation to corporate
interests, an unusual attendance last
Monday night might have been cX-
pected.
But the conviction is felt in lobby
quarters that there will be little do
ing for their fraternity at this season.
The pace for the legislature has been
made, and the program Of legislation
determined upon by the republican
leaders will be carried ont. The priv
ileges so long enjoyed by the lobbyist
will also be circumscribcd.
Trenton bonifaces car find no prof
it in this salutary change. The lob
byist is usually a free speaker. He
is a generous patron of the bar, he
invests freely in champagne, and he
is a great entertainer. a blow at the
lobby is, therefore, Il blow at one of
Trenton's most flourishing industries.
With the departure of the lobbyist
goes large prospective profits. Per-
haps the voice of protest on that ac-
count will be heard in Trenton.
Plainfield Press:
Totally ignoring Everett Colby
will not tend to increase the public's
respect for the senate or for the re-
publican machine of the state which
employs this method to kill the indie
pendent movement. Colby's good
work will be remembered when the
henchmen of the party in the senate
will have passed into Oblivion.
INTERIOR DECORATION.
The January number of the new
oD2iup Tntprior Decoration ic