ELIHU E. JACKSON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

Chapter 497.

AN ACT to provide for the destruction of eels
in the State of Maryland.

WHEREAS it is a well known fact among all
fishermen and scientists that eels are very de-
structive to fish spawn and young fish in the

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fresh waters of this state, to which the mother
fish migrates for the purpose of depositing said
spawn ; and whereas the State of Maryland, by
the establishment of a fish commission, has en-
couraged the propagating of all food fish ; and
whereas the propagating of fish and the increase
of the supply thereof can be encouraged as
much by destroying the enemies of said fish as
by hatching the same ; and whereas it is believed
that the eels destroy many more young fish of
the food kind than are actually hatched and
propagated by the fish commissioners of the
state ; therefore,
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General As-

Preamble.

sembly of Maryland, That the fish commission-
ers of the state be and they are hereby directed
and required, together with such persons as may
be in their employment, to use all means in their
power for the destruction of eels ; it shall be
their duty, while engaged in the hatching and
propagating of young fish, and also at such
other times as they may not actually be engaged
in the hatching and propagating of young fish
as aforesaid, also to construct, build, erect,
plant, keep, alter and maintain eel pots, and all
such other devices as they may from time to
time deem advisable and practicable for the
catching and destruction of eels under the pro-

Directed to
destroy.

visions of this act; and the said fish commission-
ers are hereby directed and required to expend
and use one-fourth of the money appropriated
by the state, for the use of said fish commission-
ers, under the laws of this state in the construct-
ing, building, erecting, planting, keeping and
maintaining pots and such other devices as they
may deem advisable and practicable for the
catching and destroying of eels as aforesaid, and
in carrying out the provisions of this act, in
addition to other moneys hereinafter directed to
be used for said purposes. The amount appropri-

Required to
expend.