Evening journal., 1914-03-04
NAVICATORS
COMPLAIN OF
FISH POUNDS
Declare They Are Menace Be-
cause Of Being Far From
Shore
U. 5. ENGINEER TO
Make RECOMMENDATIONS

About one hundred owners of fish
pounds, officials Of navigation companies
and other interested parties attended
the hearing today before Captain +. n.
johnson. United States engineer. sta
doned in this city, regarding the loca.
tion and conditions under which permits
for the construction and maintenance O
fish pounds in the Atlantic ocean of the
coasts OF Delaware, New Jersey. Mary
land and Virginia may be issued without
endangoring navigation
The meeting was presided over by
Captain Johnson, who said that he had
called it because on many complaints
which have been received from naviga-
tion companies about the construction
and maintenance of fish pounds. Cnp-
tain Smith read Section o Of the act of
March 3. 1890. the conditions under
which permits for the construction and
maintenance of pounds can bcltaken ont.
+. r. Sherwood, Of the Maritime EN-
change, of Philadelphia. was the first
speaker. He said that for more than a
year past complaints have been reaching
the exchange concerning the encroach-
ment Of the pounds upon the lines Of
steamer travel, particularly on the New
Jersey coast.
He declared that no lights are main
tanned upon stakes composing the
pounds, except in the fishing season.
and so far as the Philadelphia Mari
time Exchange is concerned. the con-
struction Of the weirs should not be
permitted to extend beyond three and
a half miles of the shore between
Brigantine Gas Buoy and McCries Gas
Buoy on the Jersey coast He pre-
sented a petition signed by a large
number of masters. officials of the
Merchants and Miners Line. and
other lines. complaining of the exist
ing conditions. The petition stated
that the weirs are constructed Of
heavy poles driven closely together
and projecting several feet above the
water The petition said that ships
entering the Delaware Bay from the
northward. in order to maintain a
good departure and keep in the west
water must pass six miles off Lud-
lam Beach end five az Hereford. thus
compelling vessels to pass from one
TO two miles more off shore than US
ual. and putting them close to the
shore Of Five Fathom Bank
II is said that the weirs we're about
three miles off several years ago but
are now out several more miles
Captain William j. Minford, ST.,
manager of Enterprise Harbor No. .
A. A. Of NJ NJ. and P. was the next
speaker lie said he came to the
meeting as the representative of the
Masters. Mates and Pilots Associa-
ton of the Port Of Philadelphia.
which has a membership OF more than
500 licensed officers. and that they
had instructed him TO appear here
to protest strongly against the
granting OF any further permits to
erect fish pounds in the Atlantic
Ocean of the coast of New Jersey.
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia and
between Toms River y. j.. and
Metomkin Inlet, Va.
He cited as instances Of the
danger which the pounds are to
navigation, the loss of the tug Mar
gsret. of Baltimore. which resulted
IN a loss of .one man and about $751;
000 He was asked several questions
by Captain Johnson. and replied that
in his opinion the pounds should not
be allowed to be placed further than
three miles cut, and at least two
miles should be left for boats wish
ing TO harbor in inlets.
Captain S. Svendsen said he had
seen very few lights on the pounds
and that they should not be placed out
further than three miles and a half.
He said that at Five Fathom Banks
the pounds are out more than seven
miles.
Harry Foy. of the Port Richmond
p. & V. r. r. c.. said that the
pounds we're great detriment TO
navigation by his company and that
should one Of the company tugs run
into a large pound that the barge fol-
lowing it would run into the tug.
Captain NJ. Bellsborough Of General
T. Coleman duPont's Tech" said the
Tech had a 3 foot draft and that in
many cases the pounds we're not far
enough off shore 20 allow a vessel of
smal draft to pass the second break
or and pound. He advocated the
placing OF whistling buoys or gas
lighted buoys. He said the light on
the pound at Little Egg Harbor was
always burning and he considered
it a good thing, as there was no other
beacon there except on the light
house.
5. J. Scarborough and d. J. Lewis.
OF Chincoteague and a number Of 9TH
crs spoke.
United States Senator WillaFd
Salisbury. who had signified his in
tention of attending the hearing, was
not present