Evening journal., 1907-02-04

Of Delaware.
The Commissioners appointed on the
part OF the state Of Delaware by an
Act OF the General Assembly. approved
March 2Sd, 1908. TO confer with like
Commissioners appointed by the Legis-
lature Of the State Of New Jersey. for
the purpose OF drafting uniform laws
to regulate the catching and taking Of
fish In the Delaware River and Bay be-
tween said two States. and also to as
certain the dividing line between said
River and Bay and upon each Of the
shores Of the said two States. where
said dividing line extended shall in
tersect the same. and at the joint eX-
pense of said States. erect suitable
monument to mark the said dividing
line, do respectfully report to the Cen
eral Assembly as follows.
That in accordance with the provi-
sions OF the said Act OF Assembly. they
did on the first day of April A. d.,
1905, meet, and after being duly quali-
fed according to law, did organize by
the election of Alexander y. Cooper
President, and Walter II. Hayes, Sec
retary. and at once entered upon the
performance of their duties A large
number Of printed notices were pre-
pared and mailed to prominent fisher
men and others throughout the State.
soliciting Information upon the sub
/ ject-matter before the Commission. A
number Of public meetings were call
ed by the Commission by public adj
vertisements and held at prominent
points in the State to wit, at New Cas-
tie. Delaware CITY, Lewes, Dover and
Wilmington. These meetings were al.
we'll attended by men engaged and IN.
terested in every branch OF fishing u.
/ the Delaware Bay and River. With
| their aid and suggestions. and wits,
/ the aid Of fun copies of the fishing laws
| heretofore IN existence in this state,
the Commissioners. after due and car-.
! ful consideration. drafted an outline
Of a bill providing for uniform laws.
i'm accordance with the information
and data thus obtained
They also communicated with the
Commissioners on the part Of the State
Of New Jersey to wit. William j. Brad
ley John Boyd Avis and James Strim-
pie and arranged for meetings Of tho
Joint Commission in the City Of Phil
adelphia.
Joint Meeting Held.
On the fifteenth day of December
1905, the first joint meeting was held
in the City Of Philadelphia, and or
ganization Of the Joint Commission
was effected by electing Alexander 3
Cooper President and John BOYD
Avis. Secretary. The matters com
mitted TO the Joint Commission were
taken up. thoroughly discussed, and a
mode of proceeding agreed upon. Meet
ings Of the Joint Commissioners and
the respective state Commissioner!
were held from time to time until tn,
sixteenth day Of January, 1907, upof
which last named date a bill provid.
ing for uniform laws to regulate tbs
catching and taking of fish in The
Delaware River and Bay between th'
said two States was presented to thl
Joint Commission, and after full dis
cussion, amendment and consideration
was agreed upon. A copy of the bill
is herewith submitted to the Genera
Assembly OF the State of Delaware
with a certificate Of approval annexed
signed by all Of the Commissioners OF
behalf Of both States, to take sucl
action thereon, as is provided in, "Ai
Act to ratify and confirm the cOmpac
or agreement between the states o
New Jersey and Delaware respectin;
the Delaware River and Bay and TO au'
thorize the execution thereof" ap.
proved March goth. 1905. and published
in Volume %, Laws of Delaware, pag'
, 70.
Owing to slight difference in proceed
ure, in the two States, Il was foun.
necessary to make some changes in re-
lation thereto, in the Act to be adopted
: by the state Of New Jersey, and thi
Commissioners return herewith. a cop,
I of the New Jersey bill as agreed upol
by the Joint Commission as aforesaid
with a certificate of approval signe'
by all of the Commissioners on tn
part Of both states.
With the exception Of these sligh
changes in the matter of procedure
so as to adopt the bills to the sys
tenn in force in each Of the respective
States, the said bills are alike, an,
provide uniform laws for the catching
and taking Of fish in the waters Of tn
Delaware River and Bay between tn
said States.
The Commissioners on the part o
b this state. and the Commissioners oi
the part of the state Of New Jersey
have submitted the bills for uniform
laws. as so drawn. to the Attorne,
Generals Of the respective States, ant
Z have received opinions from them re
! spectively. approving said laws.
The provisions of the bill in the judg
ment Of the Commissioners are IN ac
) cord with the prevailing opinions o
I'll the fishermen Of this State and thos
. interested I'm the preservation and tax
ing of fish in said waters. as espresso
/ and shown from the testimony take
/ by the Commissioners at the variou
meetings held and from such othe
e sources as have been available to II
n Commissioners.
+ Menhaden Fisheries.
e The most serious difference Of opin
= ion presented to the Commissioner
was to the Menhaden Fisheries-au
e was between the catchers and taker
{ Of food fish I'm the Delaware Bay an
River and the Menhaden fisherme
n who have large and valuable plants q
y Lewes in this state, and elsewhere.
special hearing was given to the Men
T MAIDEN fishermen in the City Of VIII
Z mington. At which meeting IL wa
e strongly urged by those representa-
G the Menhaden Fisheries that, notwith
= standing a prevailing public opinion {
a tto oonfroytr thav were NOT cafchere q