The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-26
OYSTERLAWSNEEDED
STATE SHOULD BETTER
GUARD BIG INDUSTRY.
Senator Minch Praises Present Legisla-
ton, but Thinks More Is
Required.

BRIDGETON. Dec. 26.-"If the State
had never taken control of the industry
I believe that there would he less than
500. 900 worth of oysters shipped in a year
from this State now
That was a statement made with marked
emphasis by Senator b. II. Minch, himself
interested in the oyster business, and who
has been foremost in obtaining legislation
for the care and Improvement of the In
dustry in the State since he has been in
the Legislature, some eight years now.
what the State has done has fostered
and enlarged the industry so that today.
according to The State Bureau of Shell
Fisheries, the total output of oysters and
clans in New JERSEY is valued at more
hi Sc. 000,0 900 q year continued the Sena-
tor. what the State needs today is not
a curtailment of its appropriations for this
work, but an increase in them, and such
legislation as will materially aid the work
already begun for multiplying the posi-
bllities of the industry.
II am very sure that everybody who
knows anything about the oyster posi-
bilities of our State is certain that the
elimination OF the present commissions
or their consolidation with some other
body can do no good, either to the indus
try or to the State. There are not seven
commissions, as has been enormously
stated in some quarters. There are but
three, one having jurisdiction over ocean
County, one over Atlantic County and one
over Delaware Bay, Maurice River Cove
and Raritan Bay. There ought to be
another to look after Cape May County,
which now has no protection, but which
has many hundreds of acres of land I'M
der water capable of great development
as oyster and clam grounds.
Each of the commissions is composed
OF three members, except hat of Maurice
River, which has an extra member for the
Raritan Bay section, over which 1t has
Jurisdiction. There are also three super
intendents for the three districts, and how
the State could dispense with the services
of any of these men l cannot see, nor can
anyone who knows the situation under
stand why there should be any criticism
of the methods. Those so employed are
required by law TO be men with an init
mate and valuable knowledge of the bust
ness, and 1t so happens that every APP
pointment thus far made TO these commits
sions has been of men who have become
expert in their knowledge of the indus
try through long years of association
with it.
THE whole cost to the State Of con
trolling, extending and protecting the in
dustry is less than $4,000 a year, and
that includes all The expenses of watch
ing, surveying and policing the beds.
with the average oysterman Of this
State in the past fifty years II has been
a case Of killing the goose that laid the
golden egg. lie would have taken every
vestige Of an oyster from the beds and
left nothing for future geners lions. The
policy of the State is 10 protect these
beds.
There is need for some changes in the
Ia rm, ,4u,d,.r- 4.,t ~, l.~. -. -
sooner or later-just ms soon as the
oystermen themselves agree upon the line
of action.
Now, this work for the bettermept OF
the industry is rather new, but it must
on because It is bound TO be a success.
But new as It is the State derives a rev
from the industry almost equal to