37 



sou was allowed to draw any seine or net for the purpose 

 of catching shad, in any part of the Schuylkill, between 

 the mouth thereof, and the lower Falls, five miles from 

 the City, after the 20th day of xMay, or between the Falls 

 and Black Rock, near French Creek, after the 25th of 

 that month, or in any part of the river, after the first of 

 June in every year, under ten pounds penalty. 



This was a judicious preservative law, as these early 

 running fish were ever considered a precious commodity 

 throughout the valley of the Schuylkill, which they as- 

 cended for upwards of fifty miles, deposited their spawn 

 on its rocky shares, whence the young shad descended 

 in shoals in the summer months, to seek the Atlantic 

 Ocean, and voyage to their distant winter quarters. 



The protection extended by law, to the shad fishery, 

 operated admirably in preserving the smaller fry of the 

 finny tribe, such as perch, rock and cat-fish, the esteemed 

 commodities of the Fishing Company, from the venal 

 wholesale depredations of intrusive net fishermen, within 

 their sporting jurisdiction. 



On the 23d of March 1782, another business meeting 

 was called of the Governor and Council, at Saint Ogden's; 

 14 of the gentlemen who last met, attended. 



John D. Mercier, Thomas Bond, Jr. and Joseph Rake- 

 straw, were elected members of the State. 



A tax of two Spanish milled Silver Dollars, was asses- 

 sed to be paid into the treasury, on or previous to the 

 May meeting, and a committee appointed to assess an 



