S6 Thirfy-nlnfJi Annual Mrrfiiu/ 



Mr. Meehan : It is a source of satisfaction to me, al 

 least, to hear that Congress is considering- the question of 

 taking charge of streams forming l^oundary hues between 

 different states, even if it does not do it in the long run, 

 because I believe it will bring about more concurrent laws. 

 The very idea that Congress might do that brought about the 

 concurrent laws between the states of New Jersey and Penn- 

 sylvania. The New Jersey legislature was not at all eager 

 in the matter, until it was intimated by the commission 

 appointed by the legislature of Pennsylvania that if they 

 did not do something the United States possibly would step 

 in ; whereupon concurrent laws were passed and a section 

 with reference to pollution, similar to that of interior waters, 

 was adopted. Fishery regulations were also adopted. I 

 cannot say that I think the fishery regulations are the very 

 best, but they are now far better than before. 



One of the great difficulties we have at present is with 

 reference to Delaware and New Jersey, which have locked 

 horns on the proposition of concurrent legislation. New 

 Jersey wishes to have the same concurrent laws passed be- 

 tween it and Delaware that now exist between Pennsylvania 

 and New Jersey. But little success has attended these 

 efforts, and New Jersey has appealed to Pennsylvania. We 

 are going to Delaware with a special commission, and we 

 will put it strongly to them that it is the only thing to do 

 to prevent going to the national government. A suggestion 

 of this kind will probably prove quite efficacious, not onl}' 

 with reference to Delaware but other states similarly 

 situated. 



Dr. Evermann : It is quite interesting to know that a 

 senator from Nebraska wrote to the Bureau of Fisheries 

 that he was ready to introduce a bill providing for federal 

 control of interstate waters, if the Bureau would sanction 

 it and give him suggestions regarding tlie form of the l)ill. 

 Of course the Bureau expressed its gratification, ])ut stated 

 thai definite measures were not yet read}-. 



The international commissioners, Hr. [ordan and Prof. 



