The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-24
POUND FISHERMEN
AND ANGLERS CLASH
Bingham Hears Arguments for
and Against Pounds OFF
Long Beach.
ONE BACKER CONVERTED
Hearing Ends With Opponents
Clasping Hands in Ami
cable Frame of Mind.

The annual clash between the salt
water angler and the pound fishermen
took place yesterday in the South Ferry
Building. with Brig. Gen. Theodore A.
Bingham in the chair, acting as umpire.
Judge and jury. II is not quite the truth.
strictly speaking. to say that Gen. Bing-
ham played the role Of jury. for his
findings will be referred. when his
stenographer can transcribe one and
half hours oratory, to the Chief OF En-
gineers in Washington. but in the hear
ing the General played a triple role.
In his varied career the General has
wrestled with many problems. the Po-
lice Department Of the city OF New York
among them, but to unite the knots and
make free the entansling lines OF anglers
and fishermen was no sinecure on hot
July day. And, curious as It may
seem, these annual events are always
staged on hot July days. In fact when
the hearing was over Brig Gen. Bing-
ham remarked genially IT'S good
afternoon to go fishing"
The anglers and the fishermen went
10 the bat eagerly and freely; hardly
any statement was unchallenged. speak
ers on both sides tried to discuss all
sorts of questions touchin on and some
times appeitainin' to the main one. as
the Best Chief once remarked but the
khaki dressed referee told both sides
they could get together after the meet
ing to talk II over. but during the hear
ing all must keep to the subject Are you
in favor or opposed to placing fish
Y Ac In, hn faru nm
Castine withdraws Plea.
And strange as It may seem, George
f. Castine, one OF two who asked for
such permits after hearing the anglers tell
how 1t would spoil all their sport agreed
he did not want such permit On the
other hand. II the War Department per-
mitted the erection OF pounds off Long
Beach he wanted the first chance. as he
had filed a request years and years ago.
the War Department having at that time
turned him down.
The chief speaker for the south side net
fishermen. w s. Downs. came prepared
to urge. as a member OF the United Statse
Food Administration Bureau OF Fisher
les. for the erection of three pounds at
Averne and Seaside. which the War De-
partment disapproved on Auril 10 last
NJ. Downs asked to permit w. 4.
Reinhart to place pounds off Long
Beach. saying This Is the time when
We want food. This Is the time when
,, the Food Administration Is asking the
public to eat fish; every ounce that can
be produced. Every trap that can be
long az 1t does not interfere with navi-
CATION Mr.. Downs also made the
point that such a pound would princi-
pally catch butterfsh. with some stray
founders ard weakfish.
Then followed the anglers. Robert
Frdenberg. Howard s. Pratt and DR.
Benjamin NJ Briggs. representing the
United Anglers League. the Waterways
League and the City College Club
Mr.. Fridenberg pointed out that the
net men now control the whole OF the
south side OF Long Island. including
Peconic and Great South bays, and all
that remained for the $4,000 anglers Of
the city OF New York was about twenty
miles.
He said that the ANGLERS OF the greater
city had no desire to interfere with net
fishing anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk
counties. hut they drew the line In what
was regarded as home territory. He
added that one nound net of Long
! Beach will gohble up all that comes with
! the tides. twice a day. east and west.
| from Rockaway Point to Jones's Inlet.
NJ Fishermen Accused.
| Mr. FriGenberg placed the blame at
! the door OF the net fishermen for killing
| immature Ash and by their selhshness
and indifference destroying the salmon.
sturgeon. striped bass and shad from
| the local waters
| Or. Briggs declared "the trackless
forests and the boundless ocean" no
longer existed and pointed out that in
his time In Westminster he had knocked
wild pigeons from their perches now
they are no more The same would be
true Of the ocean. he added II the TAX
ing OF fish Is not properly regulated.
| Mr.. Pratt said that Mr.. Downs for
twenty years had represented the Long
Island fishermen in every legislative act
which made Mr.. Downs say in rebuttal
that he had never received cent for
his work. that ne was a fisherman and
merely represented his own interests
! He added the further statement tina,
onlv by his acquieSence was angling per-
mitted in Gravcscnd. Jamaica and
Sheepshead bays and that II was entirely
by his wishes that unrestricted netting
was not permitted in these waters dur.
| ing war time.
| Then Brig Gen. bingham smiled, told
the opposite sides that now they could
get together and talk II out, and Dr
briggs and Mr.. Downs clasped hands
across the table. relieving the tension
the other rivals Joined hands and Their
the General made his remark that ITS
a good afternoon 10 go fshing" No one
dlssented