Smyrna times., 1915-06-30
BOMBAY HOOK FISHERMEN
FOR A FEDERAL HATCHERY
GIVING HEARTY COOPERATION
WITH DELAWARE RIVER MEN
Congressional Aid Seems Assured.
Sturgeon Fishing Season Poor But
Very Promising for Next Year

Sturgeon Fishing Season Poor But
Very Promising for Next Year
The sturgeon fishing season on the
Delaware River. which closes to day
June 30, has been a season without
precedent, not one good roe sturgeon
having been caught by Delaware
River fishermmen. The poor stur.
geon season which followed an
equally poor shad season show. more
than ever the need of a federal fish
hatchery say the fishermen. Assur-
snees Of support from most of Del
aware's Representatives in Congress
have been received. The matter
will also be taken up with Senator
Willard Salisbury as soon as he re-
turns home. The falling OFF of the
sturgeon has reached sn alarming fig-
ure. In the 1914 season. ]. 3.
SadleF, of Delaware City. a sturgeon
buyer. bought about 50. 500 worth of
caviar and about $500 worth Of stur.
geon meat. This represented about
90 per cent Of the total catch. This
year MIR. Sadler mas bought all the
sturgeon brought TO Delaware Citv
and the total value does not exceed
$50. With one exception all the
sturgeon fishermen have put awav
their nets after fishing five weeks
without catching a fish, whereas last
year many of them made from $50 10
$500 by this time.
Caviar Market Closed Account of War
Even had the fishermen caught "a
many sturgeon this year they would
not have made as much money. as the
European war has closed some Of the
principal markets for caviar, dropping
the price from ST. so a pound to 81 a
pound. Earlier in the season whap
1t was thought that a good msnv
sturgeon would be caught the price
was down to 40 cents a pound for the
caviar. Caviar has been amouR the
hrst luxuries to be sacrificed by the
people Of Europe. with whom il was
a favorite. II sells ordinarily AZ re-
tail for from s4 to So a pound and in
times OF peace and prosperity, the
demand always exceeded the supplv.
Under these conditions, America
affords the only market for caviar.
Shippers say that il will take this
country three years IN consume the
supply Of caviar that has piled up in
the cold storage houses since hostilities
IN Europe broke out.
Caviar Packing House at Penns Grove
There are only three caviar packing
houses in this country. Two are
IN New York and the other at Penn's
Grove. n. j.. close to the fishing
villages of the lower Delaware river
and bay where hundreds of sturgeon
were formerly caught yearly This
packing house at Penn's Grove is
run by the RomanofF Caviar COMPANY.
and for several years hes been in
charge Of Harry r Dolbow. who
has followed the water as a fisher
man since he was old enough 10
climb into a boat among his fathers
hs1ing nets and who las studied
the sturgeon industry in nearly
every spot on the globe where the
big fish are caught. This house
normally packs about $500. 600
worth Of cavisr each year. The ae-
tive fishing season is from May 25
TO July l, but sturgeon with large
roe are occasionally caught as late as
September. In 1914 the fishing en-
ployed about 1876 boats. each boat
carrying two men and a gill net. A
sturgeon boat. with net and other
equipment. is valued at about $500.
The boats belong in three states, SO
being from Delaware. 50 from New
Jersey and seven in Pennsylvania.
Bombay Hook Fishermen Cooperating
Fishermen of Bombay Hook Island
Ind Smyrna River are cooperating
With other Delaware River fishermen
n their attempt TO secure a fish {
hatchery and they say that if the |
turgeon are caught in any number !
ext year they will make a good sea. I
on. as the small catch this year !
hould allow the caviar that has been {
n the market TO be sod. AS no stur- (
'eon are being caught in Europe. The I
rice Of caviar next year should be c
higher and fishermen expect the price q
o reach 81 per pound for first class a
aviar r