1406                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

public carriers to transport school children to and from school along
regularly established transit routes, and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Prince
George's County Board of Education, and the Washington Suburban
Transit Commission.

Approved May 6, 1966.

No. 60

(House Joint Resolution 50)

House Joint Resolution to request the Atlantic States Marine Fish-
eries Commission to inquire into means of conserving immature
croakers, sea trout, and spot in Southern Atlantic waters.

Whereas, There has been a drastic decline and persistent low abun-
dance of mature croakers, sea trout, and spot in Maryland's waters ;
and

Whereas, This decline and persistent low availability of these fish
has prevailed over much, if not all, of the natural range of these
species on the Atlantic Coast; and

Whereas, These species of fish are much desired as table fish, as
a source of commercial harvest, and have a great demand and po-
tential for the increasing recreational fishing; and

Whereas, The timing of decline in abundance and ensuing per-
sistent low abundance closely follows the inception and growth of
the trawl fishery for shrimp in southern Atlantic waters; and

Whereas, This shrimp trawl fishery catches immature croakers,
sea trout, and spot incidental to the capture of shrimp; and

Whereas, A market for such small immature fish has been de-
veloped that only in small measure capitalizes on their potential
worth and usefulness; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission be requested to investigate more
fully and empirically means to permit the escape of immature
croakers, sea trout, and spot in the southern shrimp trawl fisher;
and be it further

Resolved, That since the sales of immature croakers, sea trout, and
spot as well as other valuable species, as industrial fish in a limited
area by a small number of individuals may well be a subsidizing
and sustaining activity leading to unwise exploitation of a resource
of coastwise interest, that this fishery be thoroughly examined bio-
logically and economically with a view toward maximizing the po-
tential for fish stocks of importance to the many states of the
Atlantic Coast; and be it further