The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-06
SHAD is SCARCE
Delaware River Supply
Shows a Constant and
Alarming Decrease
LEGISLATION NECESSARY
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION
POINTS OUT THE ONLY MEANS
OF PRESERVATION

| The menhaden fishing industry OF
New Jersey and the great decrease in
shad in the Delaware River are subjects
which have received special attention in
tbs annual report of the New jersey
State Fish and Game Commission, which
| has just been presented to Governor
Stokes.
| The commission deals at length with
| the menhaden question and presents its
defense of the now live controversy
among fishermen of the State which
arose from the alleed violations ofg lie
censes by the menhaden fishermen.
self as having been responsible for the
controversy and puts the blame upon the
conflicting opinions of the present Attor-
ney General Of New Jersey and one pre-
ceding Inn. After this explanat ton the
commission gets back to the real law gov
erning menhaden and promises that in
| the future all violators will be appre-
hended and prosecuted according to the
| Interpretation of the law by Attorney
general Robert Fl, McCarter.
The commissions discussion of the
menhaden subject follows
"New ersey maintains menhaden in
dustry, which in value of plant and cut
put Of product has increased over 100
per cent. in FIVE years. 1t comprises four
factories, one on Crab Island, near Tuck
eron; one at Leesburg, on the Morris
River and one each at Port Monmouth
and Bedford, Monmouth County. In
1890 hese factories were valued at
$62 900, and in 1904 this had increased
to $125, 600. In the latter year seven
steamers and twelve sailing vessels We're
in the feet, and these were valued at
$130 900, as against the $4,000 yalua-
tion of the nine vessels in 1899.
In 1904 400 men were employed, as
against 210 in 1S99 In 1889 10000, GOO
menhaden were caught, 1000 barrels Of
oil made and 1000 tons Of fertilizer pre-
pared. In 1904 100000 menhaden
were caught, 1900 barrels of oil made
and $500 tons of fertilizer prepared.
The great increase developed at the
Grab Island factory, owned by the
Wharton Fishing Company and valued
at $1G0,Oe0. This company used six
steamers last year, valued at $4,000;
employed 200 men, caught $4,000, 600
fish, made 600 barrels of oil and pre-,
pared 1000 tons if fertilizer. This is
one of the most up-to-date plants in the
country.
''The pound nets in the Atlantic Ocean
from Atlantic City to the Highlands of
| Nayes:nk and those at Sandy Hook
catch hundreds of thousands of menha-
den each year which are sold to the fish
ing smacks from Fulton Market. New
York, and to hand fishermen fer bluefsh
bait. The large number of vessels en-
gagged in taking manhaden. the manner
in which they are taken, by means OF
purse or shirred nets, the close proximity
to the shore to which they come in quest
Of fish. and the law under which they
operate, which is not generally under
stood, has caused your commission con-
siderable trouble the past year from the
summer residents along the coast, from
Cane May to Sandy Hook, and has re-
suited in much newspaper controversy.
1.-THE law under which licenses are is
sued is the act approved March rs,
1896, which requires all persons who
desire to take menhade, porgies, her
ring and other fish with purse or shirred
nets in any Of the waters within the
jurisdiction of the State of New Jersey,
including the waters Of the Atlantic
OCEAN, within three nautical miles of the
coast line, to make application to the
! fish and game commissions for license
for such fishing.
ssThe act also makes, it obliga tory for
| the fish and game commission to issue
such licenses for from 500 o 5000 for
steamers, according 0 tonnage, and $25
| for sailing vessels with tender. BY ref
erence TO this law it will be seen that
| tl1s commission has not the authority to
refuse licenses upon receipt Of the Sums
required, but can only prevent such
/ persons from fishing ar do not obtain Ii
eense, and this we have. endeavored to
do. The wardens residing along the
coast were instructed to ascertain the
names Of all vessels usng purse nets and
tor this purpose the launch Protector
was used to patrol the waters in quest
Of vessels without licenses.
s'The contention is made that those
who have menhaden licenses are per
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