The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-05

Th. enquiries ofour correspondent, cup
Country" in the communication publish.
ed last week relative to tho reason fol-
scarcity of shad in the Sa-annah river
and Its tributaries, have been discussed at
some length for several years past. A
brief resume Of the facts in that matter
is, that by what is termed the "rreaty ol
| Beaufort" between The States Of Georgia
and South Carolina, the boundary line
between these states was fixed at the
low. water mark on the Carolina side of
river, but with tie right Of free nayiga-
ton reserved To the citizens Of both
these States. or course this was guar.
antee for ample openings 10 this river.
Some time after the reconstruction era,
while the Republicans had control of the
State, charter was obtained from
South Carolina for the Edgeiie!d Cotton
and Wooleu Manufacturing Company,
which gave the right to stop the river by
the erection Of dam or dams, provided
that sufficient openings should te left for
the easy passage Of migratory fish. The
dam for the Augusta canal was erected
under this charter, but the openings left
in it arc entirely insufficient for the pas.
sage of any fshthe force OF the water
being sufficient to prevent their ascent.
While in the Legislature Mr.. Murray
attempted to procure proper Legislation
TO require the putting in Of good and
sufficient fish ways, and to prevent trap
ping or scning within one mile OF the
dam. The latter was passed, but the
bill requiring the putting in Of li,iways
after it passed the House was fought in
the Senate by the City o! Augusta. AT.
ter argument hy Col. w. Il. Gary, Of
Augusta, against and Mr.. Murray for the
bill, Col. Gary proposed to pay to the
Commissioner of Agriculture an amount
sufficient to build the fish. way. Col.
Butler was sent for, and thought the
work could be done for one thousand
dollars. Mr.. Murray consented to have
the bill laid on the table, il they would
pay in fifteen hundred dollars. Col.
Gary wanted the receipt drawn in full of
all demands for u fish, way. Mr.. Murray
objected that if it was not sufficient
Augusta under The charter, was bound
to keep sufiicieu. openings, and he was
unwilling to agree to acceptit unless its
expenditure proved efficient. The re.
ceipt was then drawn, simply acknowl-
edgiug tho receipt of the money to be
expended for fish. way, and it was paid
over TO Col. Butler.
When Col. Butler advertised Tor bids
he found that it would cost thirty three
hundred dollars. This occasioned some
delay, but it was put in last Fall, the
City of Augusta making good the neces.
sary balance We do not know anything
about the W. &, whether il was well done
or not. N. do we know anything of
the rumors concerning il, but we are
satisfied that il has not proven efficient.
The representatives from this part Of
the State in the next Legislature ought
to endenvor to procure the necessary
legislation to have the fish.way opened.
Under their charter they are bound to
keep sufficient openings, and they ought
to be required to comply with it. This is
all that we know about the matter. If
we can be of further service 10 our cor
respondent in the matter it will afford ia
pleasure.