2d Session.

LOCK AND DAM IN OLD RIVER, TEX.

MAY 10, 1918.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. RAYBURN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 7362.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7362) to authorize construction of a lock and dam in Old River, in the State of Texas, and the making of improvements enabling the passage of fresh water from a portion of Trinity River above the mouth of Old River into Old River above such lock and dam, and for the protection of rice crops against salt water, having considered the same, report thereon with amendment, and, as so amended, recommend that it pass.

The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

Amend the bill as follows:

Page 1, lines 4 and 5, strike out the words "irrigation district of Chambers County, of the State of Texas, and Old River rice irrigation."

Page 1, lines 5 and 6, strike out the words "of Chambers County." Page 1, line 6, strike out the words "or either of them."

Page 2, line 2, after the word "made," insert a comma and strike out the word "and.",

Page 2, line 3, after the word "maintained," insert the words "and operated."

Page 2, line 3, strike out the words "this Government" and insert in lieu thereof the words "the United States."

Page 2, lines 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, strike out the words "And vided further, That the operation and care of said lock and dam, with funds provided by the district, may, in the discretion of the Secretary of War, be assigned to the engineer officer of the United States Army in charge of the locality."

[Secon indorsement.

WAR DEPARTMENT, April 27, 1918. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives.

So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill, H. R. 7362, present session, "to authorize construction of a lock and dam in Old River, in the State of Texas, and the making of improvements enabling the passage of fresh water from a portion of Trinity River above the mouth of Old River into Old River above such lock and dam, and for the protection of rice crops against salt water," if amended as indicated in red thereon. NEWTON D. BAKER, Secretary of War.

BRIDGE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH.

MAY 10, 1918.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Escн, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 11709.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 11709) granting the consent of Congress to the village and township of Halstad, Norman County, Minn., and the township of Herberg, Traill County, N. Dak., to construct a bridge across the Red River of the North on the boundary line between said States, having considered the same, report thereon with amendments and as so amended recommend that it pass.

The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

Amend the bill as follows:

Page 1, lines 3 and 4, strike out the words "the village and township of Halstad,"

Page 1, lines 4 and 5, strike out the words "and the township of Herberg,"

Amend the title so as to read: "Granting the consent of Congress to Norman County, Minnesota, and Traill County, North Dakota, to construct a bridge across the Red River of the North on the boundary line between said States."

[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 6, 1918.

Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives.

So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill, H. R. 11709, present session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North, by the village and township of Halstad, Minn., and the township of Herberg, N. Dak.

B. CROWELL, Assistant Secretary of War.

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2d Session.

No. 556.

BRIDGE SECOND NAPA SLOUGH, CAL,

MAY 10, 1918.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. STEPHENS of Nebraska, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 11826.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 11826) granting the consent of Congress to the Sonoma Land Co., a corporation, to construct a bridge across Second Napa Slough, Cal., having considered the same, report thereon with amendment and as so amended recommend that it pass.

The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

Amend the bill as follows:

Amend the title so as to read: "Granting the consent of Congress to the Sonoma Land Company, a corporation, to construct a bridge across Second Napa Slough, State of California."

[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 6, 1918.

Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives.

So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill, H. R. 11826, present session, granting consent to the Sonoma Land Co., a corporation, to construct a bridge across Second Napa Slough, Cal.

B. CROWELL, Assistant Secretary of War.

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TO REPEAL SECTION 896 OF DISTRICT CODE.

MAY 11, 1918.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. JOHNSON of Kentucky, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted tne following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 10748.]

The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10748) entitled "A bill to repeal section 896 of the Code of Law of the District of Columbia," having considered the same, reports it back to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

The section of the code repealed by this bill is as follows:

Net fishing in Potomac River, and so forth: It shall not be lawful for any person to fish with fyke net, pound net, stake net, weir, float net, gill net, haul seine, dip net, or any other contrivance, stationary or floating, in the waters of the Potomac River and its tributaries within the District of Columbia: Provided, That this section shall not be construed to prevent the use of barrel nets or pots for the catching or killing of eels or prevent the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries or his agents from taking from said waters, in any manner desired, fish of any kind for scientific purposes or for purposes of propagation, and that nothing herein contained shall apply to persons employed in catching young catfish, smelt, chub, bull minnows, and crayfish for use as bait in fishing with hook and line: Provided further, That any person engaged in taking such catfish, smelt, chub, bull minnows, and crayfish shall first have procured a written permit from the said Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries to take such bait for hook-and-line fishing."

The above-quoted section of the Code of Law of the District of Columbia was adopted for the purpose of conserving the food supply. In all probability there will never be a time when food of all kinds, including fish, will be needed more than now. At present both fish and meat are virtually beyond the reach of the poor. The greater the quantity of fish which this community can get from the local streams, the greater will be the conservation of meats which may be sent abroad to our Army and our allies.

Besides, it is said that the adoption of the Code of Law which is repealed by this bill was brought about by the activities of those who go fishing for sport instead of for food. It is also said that since the District of Columbia has gone "dry," and those who fish for sport can no longer conveniently get their bait out of a bottle, they are not interested in the law to the extent that they were formerly.

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