42 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES 



States or of the Constitution of this State, referred to in the questions 

 certified to us, have been violated by the provisions of Pub. Laws, 

 cap. 437, sees. 1 and 2 (passed May 7, 1909) ... We are of the 

 opinion that the enactment of the statue in question was a proper 

 exercise of the police powers by the legislature of the State, in a 

 matter concerning only the people of the State, and that it was 

 entirely unnecessary for the legislature to consider what effect the 

 statute under consideration would have upon aliens, or even upon the 

 citizens of other states, because it merely involved the conservation 

 of one species of shellfish in the public waters of the State, a purely 

 local natural resource, and that the legislature has full discretion to 

 prescribe the modes and methods to be followed in the accomplish- 

 ment of such conservation." 



He further stated that "We are unable to 'perceive that the rights of 

 any person have been infringed. On the contrary, it seems that the 

 greatest good of the greatest number will be advanced by the legislation 

 complained of." 



CHANGES MADE IN THE FISHERIES LAWS. 



The following changes were made in our fisheries laws at the 

 January session, 1911: 



The "closed season" upon black bass was extended, making it 

 illegal to catch or take them between January 1st and July 1st. 



The legal length of black bass was made ten inches, instead of 

 eight, as under the old law. 



Licensed lobstermen, who were incapacitated by any reason from 

 attending their lobster gear, were permitted to employ another 

 person, if a citizen of the United States, to attend their gear; pro- 

 vided that the person so employed wore the license badge of his 

 employer while attending said gear. 



The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries were empowered to grant 

 a permit to licensed lobstermen to set pots on a trawl in those locali- 

 ties that are unsuitable for separately bouying the same. 



