Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-08
NO FISHING IN DISTRICT WA
TIERS

The District of Columbia commits
sioners settled the mooted Potomac
fishing question on Saturday by ap-
proving the opinion Of Attorney
Thomas on the subject, petition hav-
ing been sent to the board by certain
''gillers" requesting permission to fish
south of line parallel with King
street. this city. Alexandria fishermen
thought they ought to have the privi-
lege of fishing in the Potomac opposite
the city, but being somewhat in doubt
as to the Districts southern boundary
line they recently petitioned the Dis
trict commissioners for permission to
fish south of line parallel with King
street, which line these OILERS thought
was the dividing line between the Dis
trict of Columbia and Virginia. The
petition of the gillers was referred 10
the attorney for the District.
The attorney is of the opinion that
the commissioners are without power
to grant the prayer of these gillers. "It
is unlawful" he says, ''for them to fish
within the limits OF the District Of
Columbia, and the commissioners can
give them no relief in the premises"
The opinion recites that by agree
ment between Maryland and Virginia,
assented to by act of Congress, March
8, 1879 low water mark Of the Potomac,
measuring the short line from headland
to headland, is the western boundary
between the District and Virginia. The
eastern boundary begins at Jones's
Point Light, just below Alexandria, and
runs at an angle of forty-fve degrees
west of north in direct line ten miles,
crossing the Potomac at about what is
known as Fox's Ferry, opposite the
foot of King street in Alexandria. The
river in front of Alexandria west of the
eastern line belongs to the District. By
act of Congress, March, 1885, to protect
fish in the Potomac, it was provided
that fishing shall not take place in the
Potomac within the limits of the Dis
trict. Later the act was continued for
ten years. Therefore the commission
ers are without power to grant the pray
er of the OILERS.
An opinion, in many respects similar
to the foregoing, has also been render
ed by the attorney for the District of
Columbia as q response to letter adj
dressed to the Commissioners by Mr..
Will w. Douglass, of Alexandria coun
ty. The contention by Mr.. Douglass
was that, according to the compact of
17S5 between Maryland and Virginia,
the right to use the waters Of the Potom.
&C was exclusively reserved to Virginia,
which reservation was also recognized
and approved in the compact OF 1887
between the same States. Mr.. Doug
lass was of the opinion that Congress
did not intend its prohibitory fishing
act to extend to the fishing rights of
the property owners on the Virginia
side of the river. The attorney for the
District of Columbia is, however, salts
fed that Congress meant to do this
very thing, and Mr.. Douglass has been
duly notified that the opinion of the at
torney has been approved by the Com
missionerS.
In Washington on Saturday the case
of A. l.. Grimes, charged with hauling
seine in Little River, was called in the
Police Court yesterday, and was con-
tinue1 until Wednesday, after Attor-
ney Douglass, of Alexandria county,
had made q motion to squash the infor-
nation on the ground tnat the law is
unconstitutional.