Evening journal., 1907-03-11
Something Lax Somewhere.
Wilmington. March 9.


Editor The Evening Journal.
Men engaged in the oyster business
in the State wish to inform the public
and especially our Governor. that the
watch boat is performing no duties. Tt
has no captain and has had none since
March 1. Mr.. Editor I wish the public
to understand how the state takes care
Of this industry and those engaged in
the business. In the first place the
state imposes upon us n tonnage license
Of $3.50 per ton. This $3.50 is only upon
residents of the state, as those that
are non-residents pay but $3.50, and
further license Of SIS for small boats.
that is boats under ten tons. For over
ten tons the license is S25
There is at this time about
fifty boats engaged in the oyster busi-
ness. paying this revenue into the
treasury of the State annually. For
this revenue the state guarantees to
protect us from what Is termed oyster
pirates" But the people engaged in
the business fail to see where there
is any protection afforded. BY the
present system, it seems that we have
no redress. Last fail several men at
Little Creek informed Governor Lea
that the laws were being openly vio-
lated. Their letter has not as yet been
answered. and as the governor is our
only redress and he ignores our plea
what can we do to get the protection
so long needed? Now the watch boat
is without a captain, and is and has
been i'm harbor Tor a week. Represen-
tative Taylor brought up an invesh-
cation which showed things in their
proper light, showed that the watch
boat is and has been negligent in its
duties for several years. On the
strength OF Mr.. Taylor's investigation
Representative Knotts introduced a bill
in the Legislature asking for tho
state to buy a new boat. The state
rocks and private plantations Of Della
ware need protection more ait this time
| than at amy other time previous. As
/ the. State of New Jersey has her natu-
! raj rocks and private plantations well
! guarded against intruders. 1t naturally
/ drives that class of people to us, where
! they can carry on that work of piracy
without fear Of detection. The Dela>
ware boat does not cruise any at nights
! the time when it should be in the
bay. as people can watch their own
| plantations during the day. The laws
require it to cruise night and day, a
law that should he complied with
There are private partise engaged IN
the business that have put on a private
watch boat at their own expense, thJ
first case being $4,000. Now Mr. Editor
Just a few words regarding the col
lector. I don't know that there is
any law that requires the governor 70
appoint a collector in February, but
It has always been the custom as the
collectors term expires March 4th
consequently we have no collector a.
this Time When Governor Lea APP
nointed Mr. Wright he did so on
NTarch s0th, althoueh the collector l'
supposed to give bond and take his
Office March 4. There has been no col
iector appointed and now we are with.
out a captain. With this condition o.
things existing. what is to preven'
people of robbing the state as well as
private partise who have their money
invested. We need, and the state IS
under obligation to give us protection
Yours very truly.
Protection"