Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-08-31
TENTATIVE FISH
LAWSPREPARED
Delaware and New Jersey
Commissions Have Nearly
Completed Work
WILL BE SUBMITTED
TOLEGISLATURES

Special TO The Evening Journal.
NEW CASTLE. Aug. SO-Fisher-
men Of this city and vicinity have
been greatly interested in the pro-
posed concurrent laws regulating the
taking of fish in the waters Of Della
ware River and Bay between Della
ware and New Jersey. For years the
fishermen Of these States have been
handicapped by separate laws that
in some instances conflict and, which
resulted In frequent arrests Of fish
ermen in former years by the game
and fish authorities of the two States,
each claiming jurisdiction over the
waters in which the men were fish
ing. Fines became so numerous and
encounters so frequent due to these
conflicting laws. the Delaware Legis-
lature nearly two years ago adopted
a joint resolution authorizing the
Governor Of Delaware to appoint a
commission TO meet with a similar
commission from New Castle to draft
notifications of the laws regulating
the taking Of hsh In the river and
bay and report same TO the next
General Assembly. The New Jersey
Legislature adopted a like resolu-
ton and the commission was named.
The creating of the joint commits
sion for the purpose named was gem
orally approved by the fishermen of
the two States. For nearly two
years the commission has been at
work on a series of tentative laws,
which II is thought II enacted by the
two States Will greatly improve con-
ditions.
The proposed laws have already
been considered by the commissions
in joint session, and revised by the
New jersey Commissioners, Judge |
William A. Logue of Bridgeton, n. j.. |
chairman; George NJ. stratton. of
Trenton, secretary of the New Jer-
sey commission, and jeremiah |
Chambers, Of Cape May, and sent to
the Delaware Commission for its
consideration
A special meeting OF the Delaware |
Commission, composed of Frederick |
d. Bender, of Delaware City. chair |
man; Harris Samonisky. of Whining |
ton; secretary, and ]. Hall Ander-
son, attorney. of Dover, has been |
called for Friday, at Wilmington. |
Should the revised laws be favor |
ably considered by the Delaware !
commission. public meetings of fish
errnen will be called and II the pro-
posed laws are approved by them, |
they will then be submitted TO the
legislature of the two States for en-
actment at the next sessions.
Further efforts on the part of the
two commissions have been concen-
trated on making the proposed laws
conform to the Federal laws. many
OF which at this time are at consld-
cradle variance with the present
State laws. This causes a great deal
of confusion among the fishermen
and gunners. The federal laws
confiiction is in the open !
and closed seasons for migratory 7
fish.
The Joint commission has decided :
not TO make public the tentative I,
changes, until they have been agreed
on by both commissions in joint ses- !
sion. 1t is rumored that the COM
missions have practically decided on
an open and closed season for stur-
geon and shad fishing. This has ,
caused trouble in the past, Delaware
having closed season, while Jersey
men had no closed season laws gov
erning these fish.
It is also said the legislatures
OF both States will be asked by the
to re-establish the State
plants and also petition
he next Congress to enact laws
against pollution Of the Delaware.
This pollution is commended by fisher
men of many years experience to
lave caused a decrease of all food /,
sh in the Delaware river. Many
of fish food caught in the
delaware river, have complained for
be past three or four years of the
sh tasting of oil. This is alleged to
e due to oil burning vessels casting 6
heir refuse in the river after enter
lg the capes.
The fishing industry of the Della :.
ARE at one time gave employment !,
, hundreds of men living along the =
tream, but many in recent years
ave given it up. =
Delaware River and Bay a few
ears ago each spring were dotted
With shad and sturgeon fishermen, ..
lying their trade. and vessels had N
o md their way from the break &c
waters 10 Philadelphia without the u
soloance OF buoys marking the st
shoals' they being removed so as not in
- interfere with the deep water nets h
q the fishermen. Today the fisher w
men are so scarce that they little in di
serlere with vessels traversing the W
Delaware. The scarcity Of fsh and
the nigh cost Of CONTINENT 90 n
operations are the causes FOR man, 4
quitting the industry.
Efforts of both commlss,ors ,,-u,
be 10 re-estabnsh the indust-,, -
and the forcing ~ w.
sci owners to compel their cantsf,. &,
to cease the pollution Of the strear,
When the industry was AZ ~ =,
height few years ago, It was a COR =,
non occurrence for fishermen "a :,
lock at the city wharf with 200 to =
100 shad to a boat, for one tides l,
Ishing,a and sell them for IS to SIS \
hundred. Now If a fisherman =
atches 20 to 80 shad fishing two or 4,
hree tides, he is considered doing
well. while the fish sell h
Or 81 to $3.50 each. In some in l,
.ances they bring for the best of n
lie roe fish as high as 81 and IS Y
ich. :
The average married man of years a
go would purchase from 100 TO 200 p
lad for sailing down for winter t
se. They are so rare now that few d