INLAND PISHEEIES COJIMISSIONEES' REPORT. 5 



taken is furaished with a board floor, aa opening three feet wide sliall be made, 

 extending from the floor to the top of the weir, trap or other contrivances: 

 provided, liowever, tliat nothing lierein shall be so construed as to apply to the 

 shad and herring fisheries in the tributaries of Narragansett Bay. 



Sec. 2. The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries shall have a general super- 

 vision of all matters relating to the subject contained in the first section of this 

 act, and may make all needful regulations to carry out the provisions described 

 in said section, and shall, from time to time, examine all the weirs, traps or 

 other contrivances, with a view of carrying out such regulations as are most 

 beneficial to the people of the State, and shall prosecute for the violation of 

 such regulations. They may cooperate with the fish commissioners of other 

 states, and shall make an annual report to the General Assembl}^ of their 

 doings, with such facts and suggestions in relation to the object for which thej' 

 are appointed as they may deem proper. Said commissioners shall be allowed 

 their actual disbursements made in the execution of this act. 



Sec. 3. Every person who shall violate any of the regulations made by said 

 Commissioners under the authority of the provisions of the preceding sections 

 of this act, or who, between the days mentioned in said first section, shall set 

 any weir, trap or contrivances, contrary to such provisions, shall upon convic- 

 tion be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not exceeding 

 three montlis, or both, in tlie discretion of the court before whom the offender 

 shall be tried. 



Sec. 4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this 

 act are repealed. 



The changes we desire are the following, and iu this connection we 

 would say that they have been most carefully drawn up by our coun- 

 sel, Mr. Francis W. Miner, whose ability as a lawyer is unquestioned, 

 and whose interest in the cause is very great. 



An act in amendment of Cluipter 751, " Of Certain Fisheries. 



Section 1. Of said chapter in the fourth line, after the words "similar con- 

 trivances," striking out the words " from the waters covered by a line drawn 

 from Seaconnet Point in a westerly course to the Narragansett lower pier, and 

 including all the waters above said line," and inserting in their place the follow- 

 ing words; " the whole of the waters of the coast line of the State and Narragan- 

 sett Bay." 



Sec. 2. No person shall at any time use or suffer to be used by anj^ person, 

 any weirs, traps, heart nets, or similar fixed contrivances used for the purpose of 

 catching and obstructing the passage of fish within the waters of this State unless 

 as is hereinafter provided. 



Sec. 3. The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries may grant, or refuse to grant, 

 licenses to such number and to so many citizens resident within this state to use 

 weirs, traps, heart nets and similar stationarj^ contrivances for the purpose of 

 catching fish within the waters of this State, as they may think proper. Each 

 license so granted shall be taken out in the name of the owner of said weir, 

 trap, or heart net, or other stationary contrivance, and shall continue in full 



