The Democratic advocate., 1886-01-09


attendant result of q diminished revenue.
Aside from the legal aspect regard the en-
forcement of the carrying clause as great
ing of value in consideration for the money
exacted, and in her zeal to raise revenues,
hampers the operations of the catcher, who
has paid for his privilege, by curtailing his
opportunities of sale andabridging his facili-
ties for getting the fruits of his labor TO mar,
ket. The violations of law are frequent and
accompanied in many cases by open denance
on the part of depredators: the State sloopS
having been driven from their beats and for
hidden grounds pillaged.
The State fishery force consists of three
steamers and ten sloops. The sailing vessels
are reported inadequate TO the demands of the
service. and in the course of time, their places
should be supplied by two OF three good steam
ers of light draft and fair speed, fnsuring the
dispatch essential to the proper discharge OF all
police dates
Assembly. passed at January session, lSsa,
chapter S54, the attorney general was author
lied to take such steps as might be necessary
to obtain decision of the supreme Court or
tho United States as to the validity. scope ana
effect of the - compact OF seventeen hundred
and eighty-hvc." with authority TO employ
additional counsel. After several CONVERSE
fions with the attorney general upon the sub
ject, in which he presented his views as he nad
done to my predecessor. upon his Suggestion
Mr. [. hewitt Steele was employed as addi-
tioual counsel. The conclusions reached by
both are set forth in an elaborate and e&-
haustive opinion by. Mr.. steele now on ,I me 10
while it would be only fair and Just that
Virginia having the right of fishery in the
Potomac, which belongs to Maryland. should as
an equivalent concede to Maryland the right
of fishery in that part of the Pocomoke SOUND
which belongs 10 Virginia. am OF the opinion
that the compact does not give to the citizens
of Maryland any right to fish in Pocomoke
river or Pocomoke sound; and that IT would
be much better for Maryland to accept the re-
port of tlre joint commission of the two states
of February IL 1882, n negotiate some SINH
lar agreement, than to embark in litigation
with the State of Virginia.
nan,niup the aforesaid net directory and not
mandatory no further steps will be taken in
the matter unless ordered by you
FISH.
Nowhere do more anomalies appear than in
our fish laws nor more diverse and 1nconSlst-
ent acts of assembly bearing upon the subject.
| 1t is no exaggeration to state that we nave q
separate act for each river in the State, andln
many instances two or three acts In force ana
| applicable to the same stream or inlet. The
| migratory nature of fish teaches the utter tu-
| tility of their successful propagation anu pro,
lection under our present code The good
| intended by WISE provisions of law in
| one locality Is defeated by the unwise and in
! congruous provisions that exist perhaps in the
laws relating TO the adjoining county. me
/ State expends $4,000 a year In the effort TO
| stock our streams and keep up the supply OF
| food fish. Without material change, ioohinS
| to the harmonizing and uniform blending or
| our fish law into one system, the appropriation
| by the State must be literally wasted and the
| iabors and duties of the commissioners of fish
! cries, though conscientiously discharged, pro-
| duce no such results as experience elsewhere
I
| of ali fish laws and the enactment or one
| general system, leaving TO the counties
| waters under the provisions OF said
law. and, to prevent the destruction of small
| or trash fish. that no gtli-net, seine, welr,
| fyke pound net or other fishing apparatus or
| trap be allowed to be used with mesh oil less
| size than is needed for catching wel-grown
food fish further recommend ID tasb sb1es the dS be
limited to the propagation and culture OF our
native fish. leaving 70 private enterprise the
| experiment of introducing other species.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
From the perusal of an advance copy OF the
| report of the State board OF health, L depre-
| cate the unintentional or wilful neglect or the
| last Legislature in not making suitable prov1s-
| ions for the encouragement of the labors OF that
board Twenty-nne States of this Union have
| State boards of health. and in every State ex-
cept Maryland they have been given increased
| support and power, and vested with EXTENDED
authority to secure more complete resuits, .
Massachusetts and Louisiana each appropriates
| $4,000 per annum, the other States from
| $4,000 to $4,000 for tho support OF their
health boards. Maryland appropriated 81 200
| for the past year. aud has made no provision
for the present. 1t is impossible for our board
even to hold a secondary position without sub,
upon them important and responsible du-
ties, and yet withheld the means or ein-
ciently executing such duties. Their powers
should be enlarged, and many OF their adVl-
sorry duties should be made mandatory Ihelr
general supervision and inspection OF our
almshouses, jails and prisons. together with
their general efforts TO remove causes of dis
ease, and to enlghteu the people upon the inn
portance of better sanitary and hygienie con,
ditions, have been attended with benetcial ana
wholesome results; and while vital statistics or
| births and deaths in this State are wanting, or
are imperfectly kept it is safe to say that our
death rate has decr6a ased 8 or 10 per cent. since
the Inauguration OF the board.
A kind Providence has shielded US from the
scourge of cholera aud smallpox and other
pests which have threatened oar shores, and
afforded that protection which our own lack
of appreciation failed TO supply. Mr.. Mill, in
his great work on "Political Economy" has
said "that the appropriation of money to pro-
tect the public health is duty which the law
maker owes to tho people whom he represents,
and its performance is partial discharge or an
obligation arising out of the ultimate purposes
of government everywhere: Ihe oollgatl4h l9tl
and their properly against the depreciation
and destruction which result from preventa-
bic diseases rests upon exactly the same OASIS
and is just as birding as the obligation to pro-
tect persons and property against the assaults
of wicked and lawless men recommend an
appropriation TO the State board OF health pro-
portioned to the Importance or the suDJecl
and the demands of an enlightened civiliza-
tioE.
The reports of Dr. Robert Ward, State vet
erinarian, and of the Maryland delegates 10
the third national convention OF the C2ttie
| Growers Association of the United States, held
at Chicago, disclose state OF affairs closely
connected with the question OF health and pre-
enlturists. both from a financial and
grazing standpoint. The impression has
gone abroad that the disease known
as pleuro- pneumonia pervudeS maryland
herds and we find ourselves quarantined by
nearly all the States and Territories west OF
the Mississippi river and by the states OF ILL
nois, Ohio and Indiana, Kentucky and Michi-
gan east of the said river. The disease has
shown itself in the city of Baltimore and hve
counties of the State, but not as an epidemic.
Soimportant to our people is the complete
I eradication Of this disease that recommend
| additional powers be granted to the
State veterinarian or the board OF health
TO inspect, disinfect, and, il necessary, de-
4 stroy at the expense of the State all sheds
! roofing or stabng wherein infected cattle
have been confined and to prescribe and en-
force such rules as may be demanded for the
thorough eradication and future prevention OF
! the disease. The last Legislature. by ehapter
1877 act 1854, appropriated S1O.OOO Tor Two
years. or $4,000 year TO be expended u unuet t,e
| direction of the governor in carrying out the
provisions of the Act to prevent the spread OF
infectious or contagious disease among hve
| stock in this State.
| I have directed DIR. Ward TO enforce the pro-
visions of law and IL necessary .expend the
entire appropriation (deeming It economy
promptly to meet any outbreak of the disease
He has faithfully labored to discharge his dti-
ties. and if his suggestions be faVorably re-
| ceived and sufficient appropriation De inhdo
by the Legislature our reputation abroad may
be repaired, and no serious results Tor the iu-
ture anticipated. At present not only do our
own people feel the loss of q market 1or thelr
| stock with no stimulus to improve thelr nUe
breeds but Baltimore loses portion OF ner
legitimate foreign trade from the FEAR OF the
exporter 20 ship cattle through our port. ~
Statistics show the number OF cattle IN tnls
| country TO be less than it was in 1S6o and
their per capita value appreeiaoly Rrealer'
then to protect olr dairy and gT7lzlu8 INTERESTS
which have partly superseded the raising ., oi
| cereals it becomes the imperative duty OF the
NJ and