Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-14
Has DELAWARE CITY CHANGED MUCH
In TWENTY-FIVE YEARs7


In TWENTY-FIVE YEARs7
When Capt. W. e. Reybold was
installed in the mayors office, the
business section of Delaware City
was confined almost exclusively to
the lower part of Clinton ST., and
much of the same condition in this
respect, prevails today, Clinton
st. as well as being the main
thorougbfare, still is, below Will
liam's St., the business centre Of
the town. But the physical feature
of this part OF the town are altered.
Where then was vacant lot now
stanns substantial modern business
places or dwelling houses or a com
bination of both. Many of the
dwellings, business houses and the
two hotels that then stood where
they do today, have been greatly
improved, both on the interior and
exterior, showing the handy work
) of mechanical appliances as well
as the skillfulness of the painter,
plumber, steam-fitter and electri-
clan. Delaware City then was
largely dependent upon the fishing
industry which was then substan-
tial, remunerative and extensive;
: especially in the spring of the year
. busy scenes attended her wharves,
and the locks of the Delaware and
' Chesapeake canal. Shad, herring
and sturgeon, the chief products OF
y the Delaware river, were here
/ gathered in such large quantities
} that the export trade in this par
:, ticular form of merchandise afford
- ed business Of sufficient import
y ance to attract the attention OF
= wholesale merchants of New York,
, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington
III and Baltimore. The application
OF manuel labor backed by strong
hcF sfsd sinew4 -sthelt VIZ tbe
knowledge OF handling Il sea craft
;. in all kinds of weather, was the
he main reliance for success by those
r engaged in the fishing industry,
e who confined themselves exclusive
rs ly to the catching of fish for a
ee livelihood, for then the power boat
y for this purpose, had not come into
G. use, neither had the preparation OF
r nets 10y machinery. The day had
d NOT then dawned when the cities OF
e New York, Philadelphia and Balti
h more supplied the sturdy fisher
l. man of Delaware City With manu-
e featured nets. These cities then
G supplied only the Irvine, and the
u fisherman and his family had to do
the rest through the long winter
n evenings and short winter days,
q their time, energy and dexterity
y were given TO the making by hand,
is of shad, herring and sturgeon nets.
1t 1t was slow and ted;ons process
.e that required pains, care and
le length OF time to turn out in small
20 quantities what wonderful mod
At ern machinery now turns out,
f. under human direction, with d
lie rapidly that is difficult to com
e, prehend. But humankind seems
rs denied the realization of an ideal
I'd industrial state with these i'm
It. proved methods to tighten thu
task in connection with the fisher
mans lot. The supply of fish il
the Delaware have dropped off t.
NJ, almost "a negible quantity; especi
n ally is this true in regard t,
- sturgeon. Although Sigh
nm change for the better was notice
N, able last year, REHABILITATION TO IL
% former state is not very promising
w The enormous. amount of labor eX
90 banded in the preparation Of
he sturgeon fishing outfit, can b
c Judged by IA recall ola trio of fleet
en- that annually for many years sail
IRE ed from Delaware City in the earl
nv spring for a trip down the bay
he meet the run of sturgeon ON thei
on way up, James L. Sadler, Reube
M Anderson and II, G, Clark wer
MS. the owners and supervisors 0
lev these long lines of sturgeon fleets
for and their departure Tor Bomba
IJ,,ly MiConillinn Raw and nthp