yards below R. R. Bridge (B. cV P. Railroad), about one 

 and one-lialf miles i'roni Bowie. 



The dam is buill of brush and stone, and the difference 

 of water level, above and below the dam, is 3 feet. 



At low stages of winter none passes over the dam. 

 Ordinarily, in April, May and June surplus water 

 passes over the dam in sufficient quantity to feed a hsh- 

 w^ay without interfering with mill saj)X)ly. 



At the present time no shad or rock as(^end to this 

 point, and rarely a herring. This is due to the complete 

 obstruction of the river ))y nets and w eirs below. 



The 2nd obstruction reported by Major Henderson, 

 is the dam of tiie Ti-on Works Mills, four miles below 

 Laurel and one and one-half miles from Contee station, 

 Washington branch B. & O. R. R. The difference of 

 w^ater level at this da in is only about 2 feet. 



At AvondaJe Mills, about one and one-half miles be- 

 low Laurel, is a stone dam about live feet higli, which is 

 the third and last obstruction on the river until you 

 ascend to the dam of the Laurel Cotton Mills. 



The dam of the Laurel Mills is built of stone, and is 

 about 28 feet high. At ordinary suinmer stages of water, 

 there is no discharge of water over the dam. The whole 

 stream is diverted to furnish motive power to the cotton. 

 mills, and at very low stages of water this is supple- 

 mented by steam power. 



The river may be o[)ened to the Laurel Mills so as to 

 permit free passage of tish Avith comparatively little 

 trouble and at a very moderate expense. 



Below this point the supply of water is considerably 

 in excess of the n mount used for motive power, and a 

 sufficient quantity of Avater may be dischai'ged through 

 the fishAvays to invite the ascent of shad, which are a 

 timorous fish, and indisposed to enter a Avay discharging 

 an inconsiderable A^ohime of Avater. 



The general plaii of lishway I Avould recouimend for 

 the three lower dams of the Patuxeiit is represented in 



