THE SOUTHERN SPRING MACKEREL FISHERY. 
205 
sea deep-water iisli, perliaps do not come within the niariiie league, or least of all during the season 
here embraced, and lioncc the point that the gentleman from Texas raises is jierbaiJS not tonclied b.v 
this l)ill. But 1 will be glad to see any proper features that may be lacking added by the House. 
Mr. Reagan. But the gentleman from Arkansas must remember that the marine league extends 
a good w'ay out from the estuaries. 
Mr. Breckinhidge, of Arkansas. I am aware of that, but I am stating the fact that these being 
what arc termed open -.sea fish do not come into the estuaries like shad and herring, and perhaps are 
not caught to any appreciable extent even within the marine league. Other gentlemen here can speak 
to that point better than I can. 
Mr. Collins. And they do not catch them with a hook and line any more. 
Mr. Lore. Let mo ask the gentleman from Arkansas whether the Fish Commi,ssiou of the United 
States has favored this hill? 
Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas. I will state, in response to the gentleman from Delaware, that 
the Fish Commission of the United States has not been asked specifically about the bill, though 1 
have talked fully with the Commissioner and others of the service, and had some correspondence 
with them about the propositions involved; and 1 have here in my hand a very interesting letter from 
the specialist emi)loyed by Professor Baird to study and observe the habits, etc., of the mackerel, 
Captain Collins, a gentleman whom I am assured by Professor Baird is the best living authority on 
the subject, and his statements of facts strongly sustain this bill. 
Mr. Tucker. I would like to ask the gentleman I'rom Arkansas another question. In reading 
this bill it seems to me it does ajiply to waters which belong for the purpose of fishing to the States as 
well as the waters beyond the marine league or domain of the States. 
Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas. Will the gentleman point out the provision of the bill to 
which he referred? 
Mr. Tucker. The second section of the bill. 
Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas. Well, that I shall be glad to hear further upon; but I can not 
understand now how you can make such a construction. 
Mr. Tucker. 1 am asking only for information, not pretending to criticise the hill. The second 
section of the bill provides : 
That section 4321 of the Revised Statute.s is amended, for tlio period of live years aforesaid, so as to read before tlie 
last sentence as follows: “ Tliis license does not grant the right to lish for mackerel, other than for what is known as 
Spanish mackerel, between the 1st day of March and the 1st day of June, inclu.sive, of this year.” 
Now, what is the nature of this license to which reference is made? 
Mr. Reed, of Maine. That is simply for the iniriiose of giving notice to the fishermen directly in 
their licenses. 
Mr. Tucker. Does this license, which the Government allows under this Itill, apply to waters 
which belong exclusively to the States? 
Mr. Reed, of Maine. No, sir. 
Mr. Tucker. It aiiplies, then, only to the ocean, or to waters beyond the marine league? 
Mr. Reed, of Maine. It applies only to such waters as the United States has the right to issue a, 
license for. 
Mr. Reagan. It seems to me that this first provision of the bill is more indefinite than the other. 
By permission of the gentleman from Arkansas I want to call his attention to the reading of the first 
section: 
That for the period of live years from and after the i)assage of this act, no mackerel, other than what is known as the 
Spanish mackerel, caught between the 1st day of March .and the 1st day of June, inclusive, of each ye.ar, shall he imported 
into the United States or handed upon its shores. 
There is nothing in this that wmuld indicate that the bringing in of mackerel, caught within the 
territory of the States, may not be covered by this act. 
Mr. Reed, of Maine. It is not intended to cover it, and has not that effect. 
Mr. Tucker. I do not think it will cover it, for I take it for granted that the section applies only 
to mackerel caught in w.aters beyond the boundary of the United States. 
Mr. Reagan. It does not say so. 
Mr. Tucker. Yes; it says “shall not be imported,” and that implies that it is caught in foreign 
waters; and therefore I think the fir.st section applies only to fish caught in foreign waters. 
Mr. Hewitt. Fish caught by American vessels in the deep sea and brought into our ports would 
not be classed as an imiiortation under our customs laws and regulations. 
