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triable in the Courts of the United States could exercise 
a most valuable repressive influence against the perpetra- 
tion of certain offenses against the fish and game preser- 
vation with which the States are at present dealing under 
great disadvantage. Legally, the situation is a good one. 
The State can be aided in its efforts. Its local fish laws 
cannot be abrogated by Federal authority. 
But, while there is little ominous to the interests of the 
fisheries in the legal aspects of the ‘‘ Lapham Biil,” there 
is more in the persistency, skill and concentration with 
which the bill was urged upon Congress and with which 
the facts calling for its passage were insisted on. It is 
not too much to say that the case of the petitioners was 
admirably handled. Through all the ramifications of 
influence which could act upon legislators and com- 
mitteemen, apparently every useful exertion was made 
for the passage of this bill. It is generally believed that 
the effort for the passage of the bill was visible in the 
Speakership contest on the occasion of the organization 
of the present House of Representatives, and that a 
pledge for the bringing forward of that particular bill 
procured Speaker Crisp the vote in caucus of Mr. Paige 
of Rhode Island, if not of other members. Many cir- 
cumstances tend to bear this out. Literature of differ- 
ent kinds, much of it bearing evident marks of a pur- 
pose, had been prepared for months and was on hand for 
circulation in easily available forms. Not only was the 
entire membership of the United States Menhaden Oil 
and Guano Association stirred up to intense activity, 
excellently led and handled by its president, who direc- 
ted operations on the spot, but allied trades having simi- 
. lar interests were induced to respond, its treasury was 
emptied into the fight. 
The mackerel fishermen desiring the same objects, 
were joined as “silent partners” in the menhaden ven- 
ture, but little argument being made in their favor, but, 
like other silent partners, useful in a financial point of view. 
