Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-07
FOOD FISH TRUST
FEARS HEARING


had paid the net fishermen the pres
ent price that they receive from the
fish trust. Surely some item in the
saving line under the present finan-
cial condition of the State.
Possibilities In Securing Fertilizer.
The Stars attention has also been
called by a prominent member of the
State Grange to the question OF Ter
tilizer. Would it not be possible for
the State to secure from the pound
net fisheries all of the worthless fish
that is caught and thrown away, and
to convert it into fertilizer" Is asked.
This writer claims that thousands
of tons of such fish as shark, dog
fish. skates and numerous other
species are caught annually and
thrown on the beaoh to rot or thrown
back into the sea dead.
The point Is very well taken, and
If the State of New Jersey does not
do il Uncle Sam will. One of the
bills mentioned in the article OF yes
terday. known as H. R. TIA, Is to
have a hearing before the COMMITTEES
on interstate and foreign commerce
ct Washington on February Is, and
that bill was drafted by Congress-
man J. Charles Llnthicunl, of Mary
land, to meet that very situation.
Federal Plans.
Congressman Linthicum proposes
through this bill, should it become a
law, to establish rendering plants at
several different points along the
coast where the fish offal can be sent.
A bounty would be paid to the fisher
men for the UNBEATABLE fish they catch.
By this means he intends to protect
the food fish by destroying their nat
ural enemies, as well as to turn the
refuse and uneatable fish into fer
tilizer. the revenue received from the
latter to pay the cost of plant opera
ton.
Desires New Jersey to Act.
This is the very thing that the
grange member desires the State of
New Jersey to do. as the output could
be sold direct to the farmers Of the
State, cutting the cost fully one
half. Another feature to be consid-
cred is that the owners of cold stor-
age plants find it necessary in the
spring to throw away hundreds of
tons of fish that has been in the
plants all through the winter, and
must be turned out In order to pro-
vide room for the fresh supply that
comes up the coast in March.
Great Waste Would BE stopped.
Year after year the newspapers in
the coast counties have told of the
fish that is thrown out of these stor-
age plants. Were the State to con-
troll the fisheries this waste would
not be waste, as 1t could be rendered
into fertilizer or the fish could be
forced into the market to keep the
high cost of this commodity down,
instead of letting it become a weapon
whereby the prices can be manipu-
lated for the benefit of the fish trust.
The Star has stated it's position to
the farmer and invites him to have d
delegation go to Washington tot urge
the passage of both of Congressman
Linthicum's bills. Should the State
take charge of the fisheries at any
time there would be no interference
on the part of the federal govern
ment because of the States pre-
eminence in the matter. Such people
as the members of the State Grange
have a decided influence in such
matters of Importance. and the ex
pense to them would be borne by a
great many were they TO send dele
cation to Washington, whereas the
cost is almost prohibitive where the
individual stands alone.
New Jersey is not the only State
that has an interest in this most inn
portant matter. and The Star has been
informed through representative
at Washington that many speakers
have asked to be heard at the tive
hearings which will occupy the
greater part of two days-February
IS, at 1880 a. m, and February 10,
at 1880 a. m, the former in the room
of the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce, on the House gal
lery~foor. east side of the capitol and
the latter bill. that for federal con-
troll of all migratory fish, H r. .7775,
before the committee on merchant
and marine fisheries. In room 27s,
House Office building.