Conservation Commission. 41 



people of the State and that without such investigations successful 

 agriculture would hardly he possible." Connecticut and New 

 Jersey have for several years conducted marine laboratories for 

 the investigation of these important questions. 



Concerted Action Required. 



The best results in the propagation of marine migratory food 

 fish require concerted action on the part of the various Atlantic 

 Coast and Gulf States and particularly uniform legislation cover- 

 ing those species which it is desirable to protect by the establish- 

 ment of -a minimum size limit. A convention of the marine fish- 

 eries authorities will be held during the present year and probably 

 in conjunction with the federal fish Commission. 



The need of proper laws regulating the use of nets in the marine 

 district is great. While the inland fishermen in the Hudson and 

 those north of the city of Newburgh are subject to an annual net 

 license, those south of that point or operating in the waters ad- 

 jacent to Long Island are subject to no license fee and practically 

 exempt from all restriction. The unwisdom of such legislation 

 needs no comment. In no other State in the Union are pound 

 nets holding tons of marine fish permitted to operate without mak- 

 ing some return to the State. A just and reasonable tax upon an 

 apparatus of this character should not meet with serious opposition. 

 The revenues thus acquired if used in the interest of augmenting 

 by scientific methods our food fish supply would bestow substantial 

 benefits on those engaged in fisheries as well as greatly increase 

 and cheapen an important source of wholesome food. 



DIVISION OF INLAND WATERS. 



The Commission has made during the past year an extended 

 study of the legal and engineering features of the development of 

 power at Niagara Falls. The amount of water which may be 

 diverted for power purposes from the Niagara River above the 

 falls has been fixed by treaty with Great Britain at 36,000 cubic 

 feet per second on the Canadian side, and 20,000 cubic feet per 

 second on the American side. Under a Federal law, the water on 

 the American side is used under permits issued by the Secretary 



