Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-27
.INDORSE STARS
FISH TRUST FIGHT
CONTINUED from First Page.)

fishermen or hand-line fishermen of
New Jersey, but it is campaign
against the middlemen, who control
the OUTPUT of the States waters.
Assemblyman Barbour, acting as
chairman of the meeting, arose at
this point of the proceedings and
stated that the facts disclosed was a
surprise to him, as he had never had
any reason to purchase food fish. but
he could readily see what a hardship
it must be for the people to pay such
prices, especially when the fisherman
received but a few pennies for his
catch.
Interested in Hearing.
In order to be further enlightened
on the subject, the members of the
Assembly requested President Mat
thews to tell them more of the hear
ing at Washington, and he told of a
statement that he had made before
that body, which was to the effect
that while a member of the commit
tee on fish and game of the House of
Assembly last year he had had oc-
casion to visit a section of New Jer-
sey noted for its fisheries, and that
after looking over the situation and
watching the men take the fish from
a pound net pocket and taking ii
chase several barrels of fish for the
Paterson market, offering to pay a
cent and a half more a pound than
the fisherman was getting in New
York. and as ii appeared to be agree
able to the pound net owner a verbal
agreement was entered into for a
weekly shipment of six barrels.
The following day, said Mr.. Matth
ews, I took the matter up with a
dealer in the city market who then
and there stated that it would be a
good idea for me to purchase enough
fish for the people of Paterson
through this same party and then the
cost to the people would be cut in
half. making saving of thousands
of dollars a week to them.
Appealed to Mr.. Matthews.
This appealed to Mr.. Matthews, !
who is a labor leader in that city |
and I went to several friends and |
told them of the good fortune and 1
they all agreed that it would be a |
blessing. The following day | wrote |
to the pound net owner and placed !
an order with him. agreeing to give |
him four cents a pound or a cent and /
a half a pound more than he was re- |
from the trust in New York |
and he wired me back that he was
sorry, as he had to cancel all nego-
tiations as the trust in New York had |
learned of it and they threatened to
boycott him and drive him from busi-
ness if he sent pound of fish to the
city of Paterson without letting them
handle it.
Open as was the statement. il dunn.
founded the members of the assembly
and Assemblyman Barbour suggested |
that it was now time for the Board
Of Fish and Game Commissioners,
after listening to the stories related,
look into the question of drafting a
bill giving their body control of the
marine fisheries of the State as
through that means such instances as
related by a member of the Legisla
-ure could be taken up and means
adopted TO stop such actions and
stated that every man in the delega-
lion from Passaic County would help
secure such legislation.
In the meantime. however. he said
hat the Passaic delegation would
support the Byrne resolution asking
Congress to take control of the migra-
DRY fish, because of the bill apply
ng now being before that body. In
,urther explanation he stated that
he Byrne resolution was the one to
which the Star representative re-
ferred, and a motion was then put /
and carried unanimously thanking the
Newark Star for its efforts on behalf
If the people of the State.
This resolution has been reported
rom the committee of the House for
lction, and it is expected to be up
or action the early part of next
week, and, from information received
~ the Star. a strenuous effort is to
De made to defeat it. This action
s to be expected, as the trust
# New York will fight every effort
made to take their sinecure away
rom them. but there is one thing
let men support the resolution
through their representatives, all the
trusts in the country can't stop its
passage, and there seems to be no
'eason why the net men will oppose
t.. as it certainly means better prices
o them, cheaper fish to the people Of
New Jersey, and a better feeling
lmong all concerned.
As one speaker stated at the meet
ng last night, if the net fishermen of |
New Jersey oppose this resolution.
Known as Assembly joint resolution
:, it will be proof positive that the |
lets are owned or controlled by others |
han the licensees, and, should the |
resolution fail of approval, the evil
lence now in the hands Of those in
crested will be presented to the !
state and an investigation requested |
hat would be the means of learning |
The true facts concerning the entire |
situation.