Milford chronicle., 1935-03-08
ASKS U. S. AID
AGAIN TO OPEN
SUSSEX INLET
[C0allaned from First Paael

SOnhS AOf fesluentS and property
owners Of the vicinity and a source
OF good fish and crabs for the State.
The area has been for half a CEN
tury the victim of the whims of
shifting sands. Finally, in 1928. Del
aware undertook the project herself
end since then has spent thousands
to keep the bay connected with the
ocean.
When and If the Indian River in
let becomes permanent, the area
may become once more the most inn
portant sea food center in the State.
II has been recently estimated that
a $4,000 annual soft crab industry
could be developed around Reho-
both and Indian River Bays If a
deep and permanent inlet could be
maintained to the ocean.
This estimate was made by the
Delaware Mosquito Control Commis-
sion which is in the front ranks
among the inlet advocates. The com
mission says that such an inlet
would create sufficient tide range to
make effective the mosquito ditch !
ing IN the surrounding marsh lands. !
Many Crabs Caught There
Noah Harman, a descendant OF
the NanticOke Indian tribe in lower
Delaware, recalls that his father
used to employ regularly 46 men
throughout the summer to catch soft
crabs, shipping at least 100 crates,
two dozen crabs in a crate, each day
to the city markets.
These men, Harman said, grabbed
along IS miles of shore line from
BurtOn's Island on the east to
Puddle Hole Pond" in the west and
many of the workers received $40
and more a week selling crabs to
IarmaR's father.
Also, years ago, before the inlet
problem started, the Indian River ,
Bay used 20 be a large shipping
center for lumber. sea food and
farm products. Whence did the
trouble start? The AssawOman Can
al is blamed.
So bitter did some residents in ]
that corner of Sussex feel against
the now abandoned canal that sew {
eral years ago, about 10 men start ]
ed to fill in its southern terminal I
with sand bags. They were arrested
but later released.
Built In 1889
The canal was built in 1882 by T
the Federal government as part of :
its plan for inland waterways for I
national coast defense. It was ex-
pected that mOnitors-irOnsided
gunboats could ply these water
ways and protect the coast in the
event of an outside attack.
Since that time the ,canals-espe- il
cially the AssawOman-haVe proved A
worthless, being used little for navi- h
cation. Gradually mud seeped in the S,
Assawoman until it was no deeper :"
than two feet, and in some places 81
less than foot. At the same time C
the Lewes Canal, at the north Of N
RehobOth Bay, was also construct m
ed. These two canals sucked the b
waters from the two bays, removed NJ
the pressure of the tide water from
the small inlet and caused sand to m
seep into the channel. 81
It was closed four times and four sc
lines nature opened it again. Then bt
came a long drought in Delaware m
and the inlet was closed for the 81
last time. The fish, oysters, clans ie
md crabs that abOunded there and WI
living for those along its
ranks, began to die off as the waters "a
Decame poisoned. sh
Fish were no longer able to swim no
through the inlet from the ocean to III
he quieter waters, where they
ould spawn. In 1882 the proportion lcs
{ fresh TO salt water was / to 9. ~
he river and bays drained an area ~ y
+ about 225 square miles. 81
Those most vitality concerned
lamed the government and de- u, ~
handed that It open the channel. A N N
urvey was made by government en- y
ineers, but they reported that Op- .oI
ming the inlet would be of no value -,
} navigation, and practically wash an,
l their hands of the matter. ""'
Many Worked For Plan
However, Sussex county residents
ere not to be OutdOne in their ef-
'rts to again open the bay to N
iuatic life. Former Senators Bay hon
d and DUPONT and former Con- two
'essman Houston of Delaware be- ter
lme interested in the matter as did phi
p Fawcett, treasurer of the H. X. m
ulford Company, of Philadelphia. spei
ie matter was agitated by these HuC
en- and money subscribed by resi- H
nts to make a survey. P
Mfr. Fawcett prepared briefs In lspel
rich he showed that residents Of OleI
llsbOr0. DagsbOTO, FrankfOrd, Sell IN
vile, Georgetown, Ocean View fam
d many other tOwns-sOme $4,000 on
rsOns in all--were affected by Hud
,sing Of the inlet. mon
rhe Delaware Legislature in 1928 and
IS interested and appropriated Due
1000 for the wOrk-not nearly WOO
Dugh, Of course, but II was Mi
,ught that this would lead the, the
to take an active in ttua
est in the project. MI
dr. Fawcett was able to show laue
t commercial shipping had been wall
8cted. In 1882 there were in ex- MIS-;
s Of so sawmiIls in active opera Frlai
n on the banks Of the Indian Riv- Mi
Bay, turning out about S945,OOO son
rth of lumber a year. which was l-,,SN rsiSlt
,Orted from the region by vessels 'ilde
ing between the Indian River M
the Atlantic coast ports. There lee nele,
D we're many other industries all - y.
ch we're affected when naviga- oo,. oo
on the bay was closed. ~.
! 1928, the government finally n.
ronrfatad $40 000 for tho fnIof 5NSol