The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-19
Menhaden Steamers Are
Prohibited From Bringing
Edible Fish Into the State
COMMISSION REPORTS
BILL SUBMITTED TO THE LEGIs-
LATURE STRIKES A BLOW BY
IT'S PROVISIONS REGARDING
PURSE OR SHIRRED NETS.

County. Joseph Crawford of Newark;
and Charles A. Shriner of Patersons
composing the special commission to in
vestigate salt water fishing. have made
their preliminary report to the Legisla-
ture.
A large portion of the report is devoted
to the menhaden industry and the effects
of the menhaden fishing steamers. Based
on its findings on the menhaden question,
the commission submitted bill and rec
commended its enactment. 1t was intro
duced in the Senate by the Senate Com
mittee on Game and Fisheries and passed
that body Wednesday. The act is enti-
tied "An act to restrict the taking of
fish by the use of purse or shirred nets
from steam and other vessels to the tax
ing of menhadens and to regulate the
taking of such menhaden and to require
a license therefor"
1t provides for the licensing Of the
menhaden steamers as at present, but
no license shall be issued for less time
than one year.
Section 1 of the new law makes It un-
lawful for any person or persons, corpor-
aten or corporations to take with purse
or shirred nets, operated from steam or
other vessels. in any waters within the
three-mile limit, any kind of fish whatso-
ever, either on personal account or ac
count of an employer, under penalty of
$500. But the proviso is made that this
provision shall not apply to the taking Of
menhaden on the part Of crews of vessels
licensed as provided for in the act. Thus
the proposed law is specific in It's provis-
ion against the taking Of all food fish by
these vessels.
Section 4 clinches the matter by inn
posing a penalty for bringing any food
fish into the State for the purpose of
manufacturing fertilizer. the purpose for
which the menhaden are taken In rnu,-
nous quantities. Section provides
1t shall be unlawful for ANY person or
persons, corporation or corporations. to
bring into this State any weak fish. blue
fish, bonito, porgy. king fish, herring,
shad or other fish generally known as
edible fish for the purpose of converting
said fish into fertilizer under penalty
of 5000; and it shall be unlawful for any
person to convert, or in any manner TO
assist in converting. such fish into fer
tilizer, under a penalty of $780,"
The lay of 1886, under which the men
haden steamers at present operate, mere
ly provides that it shall be unlawful to
take with purse or shirred nets any men
haden porgies, herring or other fish with
in the three-mile limit, unless license
is secured. Although disputing the
charge that they have taken food fish,
the companies operating the menhaden
steamers contend that strictly interpreted
the law does not prohibit them from tax
ing food fish, if they desire.
After showing that the menhaden in
dustry in this State affords employment
to 1000 persons, the report of the COM
mission says:-
.'On account of the manifest benefits
arising from the pursuit of this industry.
your commission cannot recommend any
interference with it. us far as the taking
of menhaden only is concerned.
"But there is another feature of the
menhaden industry which presents an all
together different aspect. 1t is contended
on the part of those who regard the in-
dustry with unfavorable eyes that the
menhaden steamers take large quantities
of food fsh, and that these food fish are
ground up into fertilizing material On
the part Of the menhaden people, sup
ported by the strongest evidence from
the United States Fish Commission. it is
contended that not enough food fish are
taken to supply the crews of the vessels
employed in the industry. II IS probably
true that, in the pursuit of their ordinary