1876.] OF THE SENATE. 185

Mr. Brewer, from the Committee on Federal Relations, (by
unanimous consent,) submitted the following

JOINT RESOLUTIONS:

WHEREAS, It is of the greatest importance to the States of
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and
the District of Columbia, that the shad, salmon, herring,
rock and other migratory fish, which form already so large a
proportion of the food resources of the States and District
named, and are destined to be a yet greater source of suste-
nance and revenue to the said States and District, should
have an opportunity to reach the upper waters of the Poto-
mac and its tributaries, not only that they may there find
their appropriate spawning beds, but also that the inhabi-
tants of the States named, living upon such upper waters,
may have the advantage and benefit of the yearly migration
of such fish, as well as those who dwell upon the lower wa-
ters of these States named and said District of Columbia.

And whereas, It is impossible for such fish to reach said
upper waters on account of tue impassability of the Great
Falls of the Potomac, unless there be built a fish-way to ena-
ble such fish to go around said Falls, and so get to the upper
waters of the Potomac and its tributaries.

And whereas, At a convention of the Commissioners of
Fisheries of the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, held in Philadelphia on the 26th day of January, A,
D., 1876, a resolution was passed declaring the necessity of
the erection of a fish-way over the Great Falls of the Poto-
mac, and urging action by the United States Commissioner
of Fish and Fisheries.

And whereas. It appears from the report of the Commis-
sioners of Fisheries of this State that it is entirely practicable
to erect a fish-way at that point;

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
the Senators of this State be instructed, and its Representa-
tives in Congress requested, to urge upon the Congress of the
United States the passage of such measures as will secare the
erection oi the same by the government of the United States,
and the appropriation of the necessary funds for such pur-
pose.

And be it resolved, That a copy of these resolutions and

preamble be sent to the Senators and Representatives of this
tate, in the Congress of the United States, and to the Gov-
ernors of the States hereinbefore named, with the request to
lay the same before the Legislatures of their respective
States.

Which were read the first time.
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