474 State Papers and Addresses

THE SIGNING OF THE ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES

COMPACT

State House, September 5, 1941
Annapolis

THE signing on behalf of the State of Maryland of the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Compact is undoubtedly an event of more than ordinary
interest, in view of the significance of this occasion in relationship to the pro-
tection and rehabilitation of the seriously-depleted fisheries resources of the
Atlantic Coast.

The necessary enabling legislation with respect to this Compact was passed
at the last session of our General Assembly. Similar action has been taken by
the Legislatures of six other coastal States along the Atlantic Seaboard, namely,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and
Delaware. Other interested states have not yet had the opportunity of ratify-
ing the Compact as their Legislatures did not meet this year.

The Governors of the above-enumerated States either have already affixed
or are about to affix their signatures to this Compact. and when the Congress of
the United States acts to give its consent, which action it is expected to take
very promptly, the Compact will be in full force and effect.

Now, what is the special significance of this action? It is simply this.
The seemingly inexhaustible fisheries resources of our Atlantic Coast and its
bays and tributary rivers have been found to be subject to the same depletion
when they have been the object of uncontrolled exploitation as has been the
case with the myriad forms of wildlife which the early settlers in such abun-
dance in the forests and on the plains of a new continent.

In our own Chesapeake, for instance, we note the very great decline in the
annual shad migration to our waters, now only a small fraction of its former
abundance. • Our Atlantic Coast fish are no respecters of State boundaries, and
as a result of this self-evident fact, past efforts between interested States and
the Federal Government to protect and regulate these fisheries resources have
been for the most part ineffective. As a result the downward trend in fishery
abundance has continued unchecked.

This Compact, 'providing as it does the machinery for the achievement of
the cooperative and uniform action of the States sharing in common fisheries
and providing also for the technical advice and assistance of the Federal Gov-
ernment through the agency of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives
promise of progress in the direction of the effective management of our
Atlantic Coast fishery resources such as we have not had in the past.

The Commission, authorized by the Compact, provides for representation
on it of the administrative heads of the Department concerned with fishery
problems in the signatory States and also for representation of the Legislatures
of the several States as well as the commercial fishing interest. It is felt, and