The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26
OUR FISHING GROUNDS.
kybe yo,nt Committee Of the Legislatures OF
Both states Soon 20 Meet to settle the
Questionable Reports


a., h.,nohes 81 tho General Assembly during
~. Ia, session 10 confer with similar com
mi,tee Of the Maryland Legislature IN regard
49, seit,enent Of tho boundary line IN the
1o.omao river and the fishing rights OF the
,.,.,,ens q MARYLAND and Virginia will start
-, old Point on the afternoon OF July l4tn'
ma committee will be met there the next Gay
Inv the committee Of the Maryland Legisia-
,nre and both viii then 60 over the hShin2
grounds together. The question in dispute Is
an old one. and on several occasions an al
tempt has been made 70 reach an auicaDie
settlement.
The Committee on General Laws OF the
Eeuate In 1850 presented report % the LegiS-
lnture providing for the appointment Vi
Joint committee from the two DrAhc1s -. ~
confer with Joint committee from tno To
land Legislature to establish BOUNDARY Hne
be.,yeen MARYLAND and Virginia. his report
sets forth that IN 1915 q compact was ma
betwsen the two St0tes with references 70 tIo
matter and two years later Dom oiseo' a.
pointed arbitratOrs on the BOUNDARY ilno' ". -
made CD award which was fA'inou " O0'N
bt8tes
10 DEFINE THE BOUNDARY
IN 1870 the General Assembly Of Virginia
had adopted o similar joint resolution, anu
also enacted the following law An ACT 70
deGne the same boundary line between mary
land and Virginia. % designate the hehuialuS
upon the Potomac river and 70 prohloiV IN
lawful oystoring and dredging 20 te o' ~ .o
river aud P0cOmOke sound" ms act OF the
Virginia legislature was not approved by thaI
OF MARYLAND and further conferences there-
fore seemed % be advisable .ooo
Tile Committee on General Laws Ia 1917
therefore recommended the adoption VI the
following.
Whereas uncertainty still exists as 30 what
is the real boundary line between the states
OF MARYLAND and Virginia along the Potomac
river bv reason Of the failure OF the aroltra-
tors appointed % ascertain the boundary me
between said States, 20 detine and limit tho
meaning OF the term 'headland. as useo IA
said award or 90 locate such headlahds
upon the plat filed with said award; 10 conse-
quenco whereof tho jurisdiction Of SAID states
Is still in doubt. and litigation aud cOnmct IS
constantly arising on said IOtomac anu
whereas il is deemed proper and rght that
each State should exercise exclusive Jurls-
diction over TINT portion Of the Potomac
river % the channel. adjoining each state, II
possible 90 accomplish that end; therefore
BE 10 resolved, That Joint committee OF
the General Assembly Of Virginia be APP
pOinted-twO on the part Of the Senate ana
three on the part of the House OK Delegates
10 confer with like committee on the part
-
into consideration the question OF establishing
q line between Maryland and Virginia in the
Potomac river, running with OF Gs near the
channel as possible 90 as % give exclusive
jurisdiction 70 the said States over the river
Potomac adjoining said States up 30 SAID line.
Cor all purposes: and also 20 take INTO con-
Alteration the boundary line now In dispute
between the two States. These committees
are authorized 10 frame suoh law OF com
pact touching on these questions given them
Ia charge. and report such bill OF compact 20
the Legislatures for ratification or rejection.
Should said committees not agree on a law OF
compact to be reported, they are authorized
10 report o. their legislatures the full pro-
eeedings of the conference"
Ex-otFIcIo MEMBEns.
The Senate agreed to this report. and at the
suggestion OF the House the President OF the
Senate and Speaker of the House were added
20 the Joint committee as ex-oftioio members.
Subseouentiy both houses enlarged the com
mlttee 30 % o. consist of three members Of
the Senate and FIVE members Of the House Of
Delegates and the committee was appointed
as follows: Senators Stubs, tohols and
Little and MessT5. Gibson, Ryan, C9oell,
Curtis and Cham bers with the two presiding
officers as ex-oiiicio members.
This Joint committee never had a confer
ence with the Maryland committee, and in
1922 Governor Mckinney sent to the Legisia-
ture OF Virginia communication from the
Secretary of State transmitting q copy of
Joint resolution OF the General Assembly of
Msrvland inviting "a conference Of the legis-
lative bodies OF the two States TO secure con-
current legislation regulating the taking of
oysters FISH and crabs IN the waters OF the
Potomac and PocOmoke. The Governor also
asked the Legislature 90 fix q time when it
would be agreeable TO receive the committee
from Maryland.
The following Joint resolution accompanied
this communication.
Whereas conflicts frequently occur between
the citizens of Maryland and Virginia engaged
In and exercising the rights Of taking oysters,
fish aud crabs in the waters Of the Potomac
and POcomoke which are damaging alike TO
tho interests Of both States. and tending 10
impair the friendly relations which should
exist between neighbOung COmmOnWealths.
And whereas citizens OF Maryland have
been recently deprived by the authorities of
Virginia If their ancient rights OF taking
oysters fish and crabs ia the waters Of the
Pocomoke, whilst MARYLAND has permitted
the citizens Of Virginia equal privileges with
hor own citizens in the waters OF the Po-
tomRc.
and whereas cause Of embarrassment in
the enforcement of the laws OF the two states
IN relation 20 taking oysters. FISH. and crabs
in the waters of the POcomoke is found in the
want of harmony of action between the au-
thoritos of said States and between the laws
of Maryland aud Virginia;
And whereas no effort should be wanting on
Che part OF Maryland 20 secure for her
citizens their former right of taking oysters,
fish and crabs ia the waters Of the Po-
com0ke
And whereas the General Assembly Of
Maryland, iu session assembled, did on the
Pa day OF January, 1892. appoint the follow
ing gentiemen Hon. Levin l.. Waters,
Thomas g. HAYES and Washington Wilkinson.
On the part of the Senate aud Hon. Conway
w. Sans Robert G. Combs James T. flle-
good hl0nzO H. Miles. and Noah @. Sterling,
on the part of the House of Delegates. 10
visit tho legislature of Virginia and 20 con-
fen with that body in relation 10 proper legis-
lation concerning the taking OF oysters. fish
aud crabs in the waters OF the Potomac and
POOOmOke. therefore be Z
Resolved, That the Joint committed atore-
said be- aud they are hereby. authorized and
empowered. on behalf of the State OF Mary
land 80 make known 70 the Legislature OF
Virginia az such time and IN such manner as
may bc agreeable 10 said Legislature of Viz
GINA the desire of the General Assembly OF
Maryland for such concurrent legislation
touching and concerning the taking Of oys-
ters fsl and crabs la the waters OF the Poto-
mac ana POcOmOko KS shall tend TO promote
the most friendly relations between the said
Commonwealth and the mutual advantage OF
their respective citizens.
lie Il further resolved That it is the sense
OF tho General Assembly of Maryland that
there should Do concurrent legislation between
sad states, e2ulatln2 the taking OF oysters.