Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-23
OFFICER EXPRESSES HIS
GRATITUDE TO TONGERS
Commander Comes to Hampton and
Gives Out Interview to Daily Pres:
Representative On Disputed Situa
tion-Mathew Armstrong Talks On
Report In Morning Paper.

Capt. Frederick Ruediger, who has
| been making a resurvey OF the dis
Iuted oyster grounds in the James
river, came to Hampton last night on
| the gun boat Blanche and today Will
go to Fishing Island to begin a re-
survey of the grounds held by Arm
strong Brotohers, of Hampton.
Capt Ruediger said that he had
, temporarily stopped work in the up
per James in order that he might re
survey the Armstrong tract, as Arm
strong Brothers had number OF biz
contracts to ill and were anxious &c
| have their lines settled so that they
can Immediately start TO work on the
beds. If the weather is favorable
Capt. Ruediger expects to complete
the Armstrong survey today and will
return here tonight. He said that the
success of the survey depends entire
| iy upon the weather.
Capt. Ruediger will leave here at
| the break of day and il is his inten-
ton to make a most thorough survey
of the disputed lines around the Arm
strong tract.
When the agreement was reached
in Richmond Wednesday. Mr.. Lee, the
chairman of the State Fisheries Com
mission. told Mr.. Armstrong that he
would have his grounds surveyed at
once and il was then suggested that
the Armstrong dispute could be set
tied by Saturday nign,.
In this connection. Mr.. Mathew C
Armstrong yesterday asked the Daily
Press representative to publish the
following statement:
Armstrong; Statement.
I'VE regret that the newspaper re-
port of the oyster situation appearing
in this mornings paper, places us
in an attitude of defiance towards the
commissioner of fisheries. by stating
that we refused to recognize the COM
missioner's rights to order planters
to stop work on the debatable land
There has been no occasion 20 raise
any question as TO the extent OF the
authority of the commission OF fish
cries over planting ground assigned
&c. the planters. We raised the ques-
ton OF policy. and not of authority
of the commission"
Can't. Ruediger said that the sur
icy in the James river has been
greatly hampereG by the weather
conditions, which have been anything
hut favorable to surveying. In TACT
he was unable to do anything yester-
dav and on Tuesday and Wednesday
he made little progress. The tongers
could not work yesterday for the
winds.
Grateful to Toneers.
"The tongers and people generally,
said Mr.. Ruediger, certainly have
been kind to us during the arduous
work we have undertaken, and ! feel
very grateful to them for the treat
ment. The tongers have given as
sistance in every way. | was todd that
| il | needed 100 men to help carry
chains. pull. small boats or to do any
thing else to facilitate the survey
that all that would be necessary
would be for us to let the tongers
know it.
ct was also said no outbreak Of
any kind would occur and that
could feel perfectly at ease in usine
any methods | desired in the survey
The tongers have carried out every
nromise made me and they have beer
considerable and kind to the force witt
me. 7 do not believe that the tong
ers will cause the slightest trouble
from now on and even should ms
survey show that not single planter
| K on the state rocks think tbs
iongers will quietly abide the oeci
SIGN. Notwithstanding that they Zee
that the planters have encroachee
upon the rocks.
Tomorrow ( 90 TO Fishing Point
between Candy Point and the mousf
of Pagan creek to survey the Arm
strong tracts. and 7 hope with favor
able weather. to finish that tract be
/ lore night. Mr.. Armstrong Is suxioui
70 20 20 work on his beds and we Zee
| that We should do our part in helpi1i
I'm do 50.
Will Return TO James River
saturday I am going back 20 m
home in Accomac county. where ] vi
spcnd the coming week attending &
some county surveying. but J viii 70
turn to James river the following
week to complete the rcsurvey u
that section
The high winds. heavy seas an
exceedingly high tides have made
impossible for me 10 make the prcpe
r~ogress during the past week. VIII
i today I was unable 10 do anyininl
On account II the hiEh winds. j
tact the tongcrs were unable to ton
oysters fodai But with al my di'
fculsics ] found the conditions anon
the fonzcrs very Satisfactory and .