47
biy in i87q., and at the request of the Governor in 1875,
the Assembly defined the meaning of the above clause to
be: (i) "To confer upon citizens of Maryland the privi-
lege of taking oysters in the Potomac and Pocomoke
Rivers and not in Pocomoke Bay or Sound. (2) That in
insisting and declaring that the true line between this
State and the State of Maryland, east of the Chesapeake
Bay, is the line known as the Calvert and Scarburgh line
and that a part of the County of Somerset claimed by the
State of Maryland is south of that line and of right part
of the territory of Virginia; yet in a spirit of comity and
good will to a sister State, be it further enacted that the
privilege of taking oysters in Pocomoke Bay shall be
enjoyed by citizens of Maryland in common with the citi-
zens of Virginia, north of a right line running from
Cedar Straits to the intersection of the Calvert-Scarburgh
line with the Pocomoke River." This privilege was to
be withdrawn at the pleasure of the Virginia Assembly."
This act makes the very important distinction between
Pocomoke River and Pocomoke Sound and defines clearly
the rights of Maryland as recognized by Virginia.
In 1882 an act was passed by the General Assembly
of Virginia stating that "uncertainty still exists as to
what is the real boundary line between the states of Mary-
land and Virginia along the Potomac River, by reason
of the failure of the arbitrators, . . . to define and
limit the meaning of the term `headland' as used in the
said award, or to locate such headlands upon the plat
filed; in consequence whereof the jurisdiction of said
states is still in doubt, and litigation and conflict is con-
stantly arising on said waters." 98 A joint committee
composed of members of the Virginia Assembly and the
Maryland Legislature met and drew up resolutions
which Virginia accepted. Maryland, however, dissented
from these resolutions and Virginia., in x884, repealed
"Acts of Virginia Assembly," 1875, ch. 48.
96 " Acts of Virginia Assembly," 1882, ch. 6.
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