52 



landing their seines on sliores without permission of the pro- 

 prietors, and in defiance of them. Such depredations and 

 lawlessness should be stopped. 



We believe that with proper equipments, and an annual 

 appropriation often thousand dollars, the best food fishes can 

 be propagated in sufiicient numbers, to meet the increasing 

 diminution, and restore our abandoned fisheries. 



We beg leave here to express our grateful acknowledg- 

 ments to all those, who have from time to time aided us in 

 stocking our rivers, and in other work connected with the 

 Commission, without whose aid we could not have accomp- 

 lished so much with the means at our disposal. In addition 

 to those whom we have already mentioned, we beg to express 

 our especial thanks to Vice-Presidents John King and Wm. 

 Keyser, of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for free trans- 

 portation. To Thos. R. Sharp, Master of Transportation 

 and Mr. Oliver Hoblitzel, of the same road, for many acts of 

 courtesy, by which we were enabled to move live fish with 

 rapidity on their fast trains. To President J. H. Hood, of 

 the Western Maryland Railroad, and Mr. Geo. C. Wilkins, 

 Superintendent of the Northern Central Railroad, for free 

 transportation, and for general orders, which insured the 

 assistance of their agents. We are also indebted to Mr. 

 Samuel M. Shoemaker, the Resident Manager of Adams' Ex- 

 press Company, for an order instructing all agents of his 

 Company transport freight of the Commission at half price. 

 To Ex-Vice-President, DuBarry, for free transportation dur- 

 ing his administration, on the Baltimore and Potomac Rail- 

 road. And to Mr. Augustus Albert, President of the Ches- 

 ter River Steamboat Company, for full use of their line of 

 Steamers. 



Respectfully submitted, 



T. B. Ferguson, 

 Philip W. Downes, 

 January \sf, 1876. Commissioners of Fisheries. 



