Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-06
NAMES ON
PETITION HERE
Of OYSTERMEN
Through Senator Brown Fight
Against Monopoly Will Be
Carried TO Governor

Two thousand men who are en-
gagged for q livelihood in oyster and
clam business in the Raritan Bay on
natural oyster and clam beds that are
the property Of the State of New Jer-
sey, and which beds have been in ex-
istance so long hat the mind OF man
can SHOW nothing to the contrary,
have placed their names to a petition
which is now in the hands of Senator
Thomas Brown, requesting Governor
William N. Runyon to exercise his in
huence as Governor of the State of
New Jersey to prevent granting of
leases to the oyster and clam beds to
big interests, known as the "Monop-
oily" by the Shell Department of Fish
cries Of the State of New Jersey. Sena-
tor Brown will place the petition be-
fore the governor and request hat he
arrange and provide for a hearing of
the petitioners grievances and the in
Juries complained of.
1t was in June that the first ac-
ton was taken by the private oyster
men to protect interest and liveli-
hood against the grabbing of the pub
lie oyster lands of Raritan Bay and
River by the big oyster interests,
known among the private oyster men
as the MONOPOLY" At that time, as
told in the EVENING NEWS, the pc
tition was started and the two thou
sand signers. who consist of the
FISHERMEN from this city to Port Mon
mouth, are seeking relief through
the governor.
The leases which have deprived the
oystermen from digging for oysters in
the bay and river are not granted
outright to the members of the
Monopoly" as the Law prohibits such
procedure, but they are granted to in
dtviduals who, it is understood get the
leases and then turn them over to the
Monopoly" who work the beds and
keep the little oystermen off.
Not only has the petition been OBJ
tanned from the oystermen, but an
other petition is now in circulation
among the residents of the Counties
of Monmouth and Middlesex, request
ing the governor to prevent any fur
Their granting of leases to the "Monop-
Oly." A true copy of this petition fol-
lows.
Governor of the State of New Jersey
State House, Trenton, N. J.
1.-THE undersigned, residents of the
counties of Middlesex and Monmouth.
petitioning you Excellency, respect
fully show:
II. They are citizens and residents
of the counties aforesaid, and though
not engaged in the oyster and clam
business In the state of New Jersey,
are, nevertheless interested in the con-
troll and disposition made by the state
Of New Jersey of the natural oyster
and clam beds thereof.
"2. Your petitioners respectfully
show that the clam and oyster indus
tries of the counties of Monmouth
and Middlesex have a tremendous eff
feet upon the we'll being of the citi-
zens of these counties.
"8. The shell fish Industries in thu
counties of Middlesex and Monmouth
affords an immediate employment to
over two thousand persons, and in
these times of high prices. the preser-
v~ations of the clam and oyster indus
tries of these counties effects very
vitality the interest of every man
+, woman and child residing in those
counties as well as the state of New
Jersey.
"A. Your petitioners show that II
is of vital Importance to all of the in
habitants of the counties of Middle
sex and Monmouth and the state OF
New Jersey, that the natural oyster
and clam beds of the state should be
preserved and kept from the control of
any person OF persons or corporation.
SO as not to create a monopoly or priv