6. POTOMAC RIVER COMPACT

Act of October 10, 1962 (76 Stat. 797)

Whereas the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia have entered into a compact, known as the Potomac River Compact of 1958, by means of concurrent legislation for that purpose, being chapter 269 of the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1959 and being found in chapters 5 and 28 of the 1959 Extraordinary Session of the General Assembly of Virginia: Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of the Congress, subject to the provisions and conditions of section 2 of this joint resolution, is given to the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Potomac River Compact of 1958 and for each and every part and article thereof: Provided, That nothing in this compact shall be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the United States in or over the region which forms the subject of the compact or the power of Congress pursuant to the United States Constitution over interstate or foreign commerce. The compact reads as follows:

"POTOMAC RIVER COMPACT OF 1958

"PREAMBLE

"Whereas Maryland and Virginia are both vitally interested in conserving and improving the valuable fishery resources of the Tidewater portion of the Potomac River, and

"Whereas, certain provisions of the Compact of 1785 between Maryland and Virginia having become obsolete, Maryland and Virginia each recognizing that Maryland is the owner of the Potomac River bed and waters to the low water mark of the southern shore thereof, as laid out on the Mathews-Nelson survey of 1927, and that Virginia is the owner of the Potomac River bed and waters southerly from said low water mark as laid out, and that the citizens of Virginia have certain riparian rights along the southern shore of the River, as shown on said Mathews-Nelson survey, and, in common with the citizens of Maryland, the right of fishing in said river, Maryland and Virginia have agreed that the necessary conservation and improvement of the tidewater portion of the Potomac fishery resources can be best achieved by a Commission comprised of representatives of both Maryland and Virginia, charged with the establishment and maintenance of a program to conserve and improve these resources, and

“ARTICLE III

"COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES

"SECTION 1. OYSTER BARS.-The Commission shall make a survey of the oyster bars within its jurisdiction and may reseed and replant said oyster bars as may from time to time be necessary.

"SEC. 2. FISH AND SEAFOOD.-The Commission may by regulation prescribe the type, size and description of all species of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams and other shellfish which may be taken or caught, within its jurisdiction, the places where they may be taken or caught, and the manner of taking or catching.

"SEC. 3. RESEARCH.-The Commission shall maintain a program of research relating to the conservation and repletion of the fishery resources within its jurisdiction, and to that end may cooperate and contract with scientists and public and private scientific agencies engaged in similar work, and may purchase, construct, lease, borrow or otherwise acquire by any lawful method such property, structures, facilities, or equipment as it deems necessary.

"SEC. 4. LICENSES. (a) The Commission shall issue such licenses as it may prescribe which shall thereupon be required for the taking of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams or other shellfish from the waters within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and for boats, vessels and equipment used for such taking. Recognizing that the right of fishing in the territory over which the Commission shall have jurisdiction is and shall be common to and equally enjoyed by the citizens of Virginia and Maryland, the Commission shall make no distinction between the citizens of Virginia or Maryland in any rule, regulation or the granting of any licenses, privileges, or rights under this compact.

(b) Licenses for the taking of oysters and clams and the commercial taking of finfish and crabs within the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be granted only to citizens of Maryland and Virginia who have resided in either or both states for at least twelve months immediately preceding the application for the license. Within six months after the effective date of this compact, the Commission shall adopt a schedule of licenses, the privileges granted thereby, and the fees therefor, which may be modified from time to time in the discretion of the Commission.

"(c) The licenses hereby authorized may be issued at such places, by such persons, and in accordance with such procedures as the Commission may determine.

"SEC. 5. EXPENDITURES.-The Commission is authorized to expend funds for the purposes of general administration, repletion of the fish and shellfish in the Potomac River, and the conservation and research programs authorized under this compact, subject to the limitations provided in this compact.

"SEC. 6. GRANTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, ETC.-The Commission is authorized to receive and accept (or to refuse) from any and all public and private sources such grants, contributions, appropriations, donations, and gifts as may be given to it, which shall be paid into and become part of the General Fund of the Commission, except where the donor instructs that it shall be used for a specific project, study, purpose, or program, in which event it shall be placed in a special account, which

shall be administered under the same procedure as that prescribed for the General Fund.

"SEC. 7. COOPERATION OF STATE AGENCIES.-The Commission may call upon the resources and assistance of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, the Maryland Department of Research and Education, and all other agencies, institutions, and departments of Maryland and Virginia which shall cooperate fully with the Commission upon such request.

SEC. 8. REGULATIONS.-The Commission shall have the power to make, adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of its meetings, such hearings as it may from time to time hold, and for the administration of its affairs. "SEC. 9. INSPECTION TAX.-The Commission may impose an inspection tax, in an amount as fixed from time to time by the Commission, not exceeding 25¢ per bushel, upon all oysters caught within the limits of the Potomac River. The tax shall be paid by the buyer at the place in Maryland or Virginia where the oysters are unloaded from vessels and are to be shipped no further in bulk in vessel, to an agent of the Commission, or to such officer or employee of the Virginia Fisheries Commission or of the Maryland Department of Tidewater Fisheries, as may be designated by the Commission, and by him paid over to the Commission.

"EFFECT ON EXISTING LAWS AND PRIOR COMPACT

"SECTION 1. EXISTING RIGHTS.-The rights, including the privilege of erecting and maintaining wharves and other improvements, of the citizens of each State along the shores of the Potomac River adjoining their lands shall be neither diminished, restricted, enlarged, increased nor otherwise altered by this compact, and the decisions of the courts construing that portion of Article VII of the Compact of 1785 relating to the rights of riparian owners shall be given full force and effect. "SEC. 2. EXISTING LAWS.-The laws of the State of Maryland relating to finfish, crabs, oysters, and clams in the Potomac River, as set forth in Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland and as in effect on December 1, 1958, shall be and remain applicable in the Potomac River except to the extent changed, amended, or modified by regulations of the Commission adopted in accordance with this compact.

"SEC. 3. EXISTING LICENSES.-The rights and privileges of licensees to take and catch finfish, crabs, oysters, clams, and other shellfish in the Potomac River, which are in effect at the time this compact becomes effective, shall continue in force for a period of six months at which time every such license and every such right and privilege shall be abrogated.

"ARTICLE IX

"EFFECTIVE DATE

"This compact, which takes the place of the Compact of 1785 between Maryland and Virginia, shall take effect at the expiration of sixty days after the completion of the last act legally necessary to make it operative, and thereupon the said Compact of 1785 shall no longer have any force or effect."

SEC. 2. (a) The right to alter, amend, or repeal this joint resolution is hereby expressly reserved.

(b) The right is hereby reserved to the Congress or any of its standing committees to require of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission the disclosure and furnishing of such information and data as is deemed appropriate by the Congress or any committee thereof having jurisdiction of the subject matter of this resolution.

Approved October 10, 1962.

L. Authorities relating to specific fish hatcheries and to other

facilities

1. FISH HATCHERY, KENTUCKY

Act of July 18, 1950 (64 Stat. 343; 16 U.S.C. 760-760-1)

ESTABLISHMENT OF REARING PONDS AND FISH HATCHERY IN KENTUCKY

SECTION 1. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to construct, equip, maintain, and operate rearing ponds and a fish hatchery at a suitable location in Kentucky. (July 18, 1950, c. 465, § 1, 64 Stat. 343.)

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 2. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated from time to time, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, including not to exceed $275,000 for the acquisition of lands and water rights or interests therein and the construction and equipment of such station. (July 18, 1950, c. 465, § 2, 64 Stat. 343.)

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