46 	The Compact of 1785

area. They have discussed the effectiveness of more intense
conservation measures and have recommended more strict
enforcement of the laws, by both states. Their most recent
suggestion has been that a joint agency be established by
the two states, to handle as one unit all problems of en
forcement in the Potomac.

	For a time it appeared as if this latter proposal would
	be accepted by Virginia. It was advanced from 1943 to
	1945 at meetings of the Chesapeake Bay Section of the At
	lantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, attended by,
	among others, officials of the Department of Tidewater
	Fisheries of Maryland and of the Virginia Commission
	of Fisheries. A strong endorsement of the idea was made
	by Maryland officials at the meeting of October 26, 1945.
	Virginia officials proposed further study of the matter,
	which was accordingly given at a meeting nn November
	16, 1945.

	The latter meeting was attended by a delegation of
	persons representing private oyster interests in Virginia,
	in addition to officials of both states. At the time there
	seemed to be general agreement on the suggestion for a
	permanent joint commission, and the Secretary-Treasurer
	of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was
	instructed to prepare a draft copy of proposed amendments
	to the Compact of 1785, to cover the power:, and workings
	of such a joint commission.

	The proposed amendments were presented to the next
	meeting, on January 11, 1946. It developed about that
	time, however, that the Virginia oystermen who appeared
	at the meeting on November 16 had not adequately repre
	sented the industry, for the Virginia Oystermen's Associa
	tion refused to accept the plan for a permanent joint com
	mission. The whole matter is resting at that point.

	Meanwhile, the Governor of Maryland appointed a com
	mission under the chairmanship of Major Robcrt H.
	Archer, to consider the general problems of fisheries in