The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-27
LOWNDES TO O'FERRALL.
Maryland's Governor Writes to Vir
NiniA'S Governor

ginia's Governor
Annapolis, June 26.-Governor Lown-
DIES before his departure for Cumberland
this afternoon sent the following letter
To Governor O'Ferrall of Virginia. i'm ref
erence To the arrest of Maryland crabbers
ny Virginia authorities. Governor Lown-
dies said:
II have the honor to call your attention
to the arrest in Pocomoke sound on the
loth instant by the officers of the Virgin
Ia State fishery force, of three citizens of
Maryland. Aaron Byrd. VIM. Moore and
George Powell, and their delivery to the
authorities of Accomac county, Va. for
trial on the charge of illegally taking
crabs in Virginia waters.
AT the time of the arrest the boats i'm
which the accused were working were
seized by the officers. Complaint had
been made TO me that the accused were
working on the Maryland side of the
boundary line when arrested. and that
the arrest, therefore, was unjustifiable
From investigation of the circumstan res
OF the arrest, | have ascertained that the
buoys or other objects which formerly
marked that part of the boundary line
between Maryland and Virginia. begin
ming at Watkins Point and running east
wardly through the waters of Pocomoke
sound have disappeared and that the
true location of said lines in dispute be-
tween the citizens of Virginia and Mary
land. whose employment is in said wat
ers; nor, on account of the absence of
marks is the location of the line definite
~ known TO the officers of the fishery force
of the two States.
1t appears to have been the practice
for some years past, in the absence of
marks indicating the true boundary. for
the officers fhe ii Sbn,.,. 80,
States to establish, by mutual agreement.
Il boundary line indicating the irrespective
territory. The course of the boundary so
laid out seems to have varied somewhat
with the change of officers. While the
exact location of the point at which the
Maryland crabbers We're arrested is in dis
pute, it seems certain that the accused
when arrested, We're we'll to the north of
the boundary line agreed on by Captain
Thomas, of the Virginia fishery force
and that they believed themselves to be
working in Maryland waters
Your eNcellency will doubtless agree
with me in approaching the great impor-
lance to the people of both States that
the boundary line shall he accurately and
plainly marked. Such certainty of loca-
ton is especially necessary in the waters
OF Pocomoke sound. whose valuable fisher
les give employment to so many citizens
of both Virginia and Maryland
Il propose, therefore, to your excel
lency that the true boundary line between
Virginia and Maryland through the
waters of Pocomoke sound, as described
in the award of 1877. be remarked bv
some competent person under the super
vision of the two States, and that imme-
diate steps be taken to that end.
81 am advised that the trial of the ac-
cused crabbers has been set by the Ac-
comac county court for Tuesday next. the
3Oth instant
lin view of the uncertainty of the loca-
ton of the true boundary, and the fact
that Byrd, Moore and Powell at the time
OF their arrest believed themselves to he
in Maryland waters, and are therefore
innocent of a wilful violation of.the Vir-
ginia law, have the honor to request
that pending delineatiOn of the true
boundary line through the waters refer
red To your eXccllency will grant to the
accused noile prosequi Of the charge
against them and direct Il restitution of
the confiscated boats
believing that the exercise of the pre-
rogative of the executive will tend to pre-
serve those ties of friendship and good
will, which have so long prevailed be-
tween the people of the two States and
will but.serve to.facilitate just and sat
isfactory settlement of matters in contro-
versy.
81 have the honor to be, with great res
pect
Your obedient servant.
''LLOYD LOWNDES. Governor
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