T>XII REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of the Uuited States, it seems emiueutly proper that the same ageucy 

 should remedy the difficulty, especially as the locality where such hsh- 

 way alone can be built is the property of the United States. The leg- 

 islatuivs of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia are highly in favor 

 of the improvement in question, and I see no impropriety in the grant- 

 ing of this proposition. 



At the proper time I shall be happy to furnish a plan of construc- 

 tion upon tlie most feasible and efficient scale. The expense of this 

 additional work will make but a small item in the total. It is import- 

 ant that lor such construction some such proviso as that below should 

 be added to the bill as it now stands. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



S. r. BAIRD, 



Commissioner, 

 Maj. W. J. Twining, 



Engineer Commissioner, D. C. 



Provided, That a suitable construction shall be built to admit of the upward pas- 

 sage, at all seasons of the year and at all stages of the water, of shad, salmon, herring, 

 sti'iped bass, sturgeon, etc., the same to be erected in accordance with the plans to 

 be furnished by the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries. 



The committee accepted these recommendations, and reported to the 

 House the original bill amended, so as to provide for suitable fish-ways 

 at the Great Falls of the Potomac. 



The bill, which became a law July 12, 1882, appropriated $50,000 for 

 the construction of the fish- ways, and directed that the same should be 

 erected according to plans and specifications to be furnished by the 

 United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



Immediately after the appropriation became available, I detailed Col. 

 M. McDonald, chief of the division of distribution in the Uuited 

 States Fish Commission, to take charge of the preparation of the i)laus 

 and specifications, and to proceed at once to arrange for the necessary 

 surveys. Colonel McDonald reported to Maj. G. E. Lydecker, Engi- 

 neer Commissioner, in October, and was authorized by him to organize 

 a field party and comi^lete the necessary surveys, the expenses being 

 certified to him for payment. 



Mr. F. S. Eastman was designated as chief of the field party, and, 

 in company with Colonel McDonald, made a reconnaissance of the 

 ground. This developed four practicable sites for the erection of the 

 fish-way. The one immediately at the Great Falls on the Maryland 

 bank of the river was definitely determined on for reasons given by 

 Colonel McDonald in his report. 



The necessary minute survey of the site selected was deferred from 

 time to time in consequence of the serious indisposition of Mr. Eastman; 

 and the fatal termination of his illness making it necessary to secure 

 the services of another engineer, Professor Hilgard, Superintendent of the 

 United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, kindly detailed Mr. Eugene El- 

 licott, one of his staff of field assistants for the purpose. Unavoidable de- 

 lays threw the field work into the most inclement season of winter, and 

 necessitated the maintenance of the party in the field for a longer time, 



