Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-27
Boutmen Claim
Commissioners
Made Promise
BY CHARLES d. PIERCE
Star staff Writer

a ~oAACA AACAA WIN ACC Vic Q4QAA1e
cipal Fish Wharf.
The plan was listed for ap-
prevail by the Commissioners
on the October 10 agenda.
However. as the meeting began,
Engineer Commissioner
c harles M. Duke asked that
action be deferred.
Responsible for the delay are
objections to the plan by the
fishermen and their ally, Sena-
tor Beall, Republican Of Mary
land, INFORMED sources said
yesterday.
The fishermen believe the
plan would reduce docking
space for their boats which
they feel was promised to them
by District officials. They are
also apprehensive that the pro-
posed eventual construction Of
a Ponte Vecchio "a bridge with
shops similar to that in Flo
renee, italy, to connect the
waterfront area with East Po-
tomac Park could interfere
with their operations.
Gen. Duke Hopeful
Brig. Gen. Duke, when asked
Friday If the problem with the
fishermen had been resolved,
replied:
1T has not been resolved yet,
and at the moment, I can see
no specific plan to resolve the
difficulty. We are going to have
to make a decision right away.
I am hopeful something can be
worked out"
Senator Beall, q member Of
the Senate District Committee,
said that approval by the Dis
trict Commissioners Of the plan
submitted to them by the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission would violate an agree
ment District officials m q d e
about a year ago on docking
space for the fishermen.
But now we have q new En-
gineer Commissioner-G en-.
Duke" said Senator Beall.
"The general came to my office
recently to talk about this mat
ter. He's very fine person, but
he didn't realize that this for
mer agreement had been made.
I remember the previous agree
ment very well.
We're not trying to Interfere
with development Of the water
front, but the fishermen are
entitled to justice"
Speaks for Fishermen
Perry F. Cannon, executive
vice president Of the Washing
ton Fish Wharf Association, an
organization Of the boatmen
who use the wharf, said that
the problem in the NCPC plan
Is that 1t designated q portion
Of the docking space used by
the boatmen as a landing area
open to anyone.
The area involved Is an ap-
proximately 80-foot wide strip
just downstre a m from the
Municipal Fish Wharf. Mr..
Cannon said this strip Of Dis
trict-o wned land was made
available to the fishermen for
docking when the north pier as
the Municipal Fish Wharf was
eliminated to m a Ike way fox
construction of the Washington
Channel bridge.
Mr.. Cannon also said that
when the fisherm e n moved
their boats last year to permit
construction Of the new water
front bulkhead they were as
sured by Brig. Gen. Clarke,
then the Engineer Commission
er. that they could return to
the same areas.
Wants a Meeting
Gen. Clarke could not be
reached yesterday for COM
ment.
Mr.. Cannon said he feels
that District officials should
call a meeting with the fisher
men to discuss the problem and
supply more detailed Informal
ton, particularly on the posi-
bility that the Ponte Vecchio
p e de strjan bridge might be
built near the Municipal Fish
Wharf.
He said that the fishermen
are fearful that construction of
the bridge approaches might
encroach on their area and
that the structure might ham,
nor. Y1oHyi0afi0y, q, kIoa aI,a,.,,.I