14 The Compact of 1785

Compact is not entirely met. For example, Maryland sets
the open season for shad and herring in the Potomac River
from March 1 to May 26 (Art. 39, sec. 59 (d) , 1943 Supp.),
while in Virginia it is set from March 1 to June 1 (sec.
3173, 1942 Code).

 Also, Maryland sets the open season for oysters in the
 upper Potomac from October 1 to April 15 (sec. 8 (d) , ch.
 929 of 1945) , while in Virginia it is set from October 1 to
 April 25 (sec. 3299 (4) , 1942 Code). Similarly, Maryland
 permits oysters smaller than three inches to be taken for
 seed oysters (sec. 8 (e) , ch. 929 of 1945) while in Virginia
 only those smaller than two and one-half inches may be
 so taken (sec. 3299 (5) , 1942 Code). These and a number
 of other differences in the concurrent laws would have to
 be changed before there could be complete uniformity.'

 In 1945 the Maryland Legislature (by Joint Resolution
 No. 17) authorized the Governor of Maryland to appoint
 a Commission to confer and meet jointly with a similar
 commission which might be appointed by Virginia, to re
 study the Compact of 1785 and concurrent legislation
 respecting fisheries in the Potomac River and Chesapeake
 Bay, and to consider the possibility of creating a joint inter
 state authority to administer such matters.

 The Virginia Legislature, meeting in regular session in
 1946, did not make any provision for the appointment of
 similar commissioners on the part of that State. However,
 at the Special Session of 1947, the Virginia Legislature
 (by House Joint Resolution No. 30) , established such a
 commission, the resolution being similar to that passed in
 Maryland in 1945.

 And, in 1947, by Joint Resolution No. 3, the Maryland
 Legislature again passed the same resolution. Also, by
 Ch. 276 of the Acts of 1947, Maryland enacted a new ver-

 1 Memorandum reports prepared for the Legislative Council of -Maryland
 as of December, 1945, analyzed the differences between Maryland and Vir
 ginia for all oyster and tidewater fishing laws.