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ernmost and not the westernmost angle of Watkins
Point was taken as the true Watkins Point, and Pogo-
moke River was divided between the states, up to where
the Calvert Scarburgh line began.
This award was accepted by Virginia and Maryland,
and ratified by Congress. In 1882, Mr. Wm. J. Aydelott
on the part of Maryland, and Mr. G. Ii. Bagwell in behalf
of Virginia, were appointed commissioners to survey and
mark the line according to the decision of the arbi-
trators.$'s
Col. F. V. Abbott of the Corps of Engineers of the
United States Army surveyed the line, and the work was
completed in 1883. Col. Abbott says of the line: "Our
eastern terminus near the ocean is some eighty feet too
far north; and the western terminus and location of our
boundary on the e8,st bank of the Pocomoke River is
some two hundred and seventy-five feet too far south,
thus gaining for Virginia a little strip, though nearly
three times as much more is gained by Maryland." An
old oak was found which had been marked by Calvert and
Scarburgh in 1668, by Michler in 1859, and De La Camp
in 1867, and finally by Abbott in 1883. Mr. Aydelott
in his report speaks tenderly of this landmark and cele-
brated "marriage tree," adding "may the woodman ever
spare that tree." "7
Vii
FISHFmY RIGHTS IN COMMON WATXRS AND THX OYSTXR
TROUBLxS To IS94
The line as laid down by the arbitrators seems to have
settled all questions of dispute between Maryland and
"° Laws of Maryland," r878, eh. 374, 1882, Ch. 159. "Acts of
Virginia Assembly;" 1878-4o,ch. 3o4.
87 Report on the boundary by William J. Aydelott in ` Mary-
land House and Senate Documents," Document K, x884. Mr.
Aydelott has had a number of iron spikes driven into the trunk of
this tree, that the woodman might fear to spoil his axe in felling this
ancient land-mark.
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