78 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1805.

The bill for draining part of a branch of Tuckahoe, known by the name of Beaver Dam Branch, lying in
Queen-Anne's county, was read the second time, passed, and, with the bill to lay out, open and clear, a road
in Harford, county, from a place known by the name of Darlington, to intersect the road leading from Belle-Air
to Havre-de-Grace, sent to the senate by the clerk.

The clerk of the senate delivers the bill to alter and repeal such parts of the constitution and form of go.
vernment of this state as relate to the division of Saint-Mary's county into election districts, endorsed, " will
not puss. " And the bill to lay out and make a public road in Frederick county, endorsed, " will pass. " Or-
dered to be engrossed.

Mr. Carroll, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to change the place of hold-
ing elections in the fourth ejection district of Montgomery county; which was read the first time and ordered
to lie on the table.

ORDERED, That the supplement to an act, entitled, An act for the relief of insolvent debtors be recommitted
for amendment.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, An act authorising the chancellor in certain cases to
decree conveyances for land the title to which is in British subjects. ORDERED, That Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Shaaff
and Mr. Waters, be a committee to prepare and bring in the same.

Mr. Ayres, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of sundry inhabitants of Harford county, praying legis-
lative interference relative to the fish pots and artificial mounds and batteries which have been erected in the
river Susquehanna, report, that they have taken the same under consideration, and find that by the act, entitled,
An act for the preservation of the breed of fish, passed at May session, seventeen hundred and sixty-eight, and
made permanent by the act of November session, seventeen hundred and ninety-eight, chapter seventy-one, the
erecting of fish pots in the Susquehanna is thereby prohibited, and the remedy therein provided so ample and
full as to supersede any further interference on this part of the petition by the legislature.

On the subject of artificial mounds and batteries, your committee find that by the act, entitled, An additional
supplement to the act, entitled, An act for making the river Susquehanna navigable from the line of this state
to tide water, passed at November session, seventeen hundred and ninety-seven, chapter ninety-nine, section
four, the bed of the river Susquehanna from the Maryland line to tide water is declared a public highway, the
erection, therefore, of any artificial mounds or batteries in obstruction of the navigation of the said river, or
to the destruction of the fry of fish, without a law to sanction the same, is already punishable by law as other
nuisances erected in public highways are punishable, and that special legislative interference is unnecessary.
With respect to the construction of the locks of the Susquehanna canal, so as to admit of the fish fry going
through them, it does not appear that the governor and directors have refused to amend the said locks, so as to
leave apertures therein sufficient for the passage down of said fish fry, nor have they any information as to the
practicability of the constructions of said locks, with apertures, without great injury to the said locks. Your
committee are therefore of opinion that it would be inexpedient to interfere on this part of the subject, con-
tained in the petition, during the present session.

By order, C. GIBSON, clk.
Which was read the first and second time by especial order and concurred with.

The house, according to the order of the day, proceeded to the second reading of the bill to incorporate a
company to make a turnpike road from the line of the district of Columbia where it crosses the post-road lead-
ing from George-town to Frederick-town, through Montgomery and Frederick counties, to Frederick-town;
which being read throughout, the question was then put, Shall the said bill pass? Resolved in the affirmative.

A petition from David Hopkins, late an officer in the revolutionary army, praying to be allowed half pay for
life, was preferred, read, and referred to Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Neale, Mr. Stuart and Mr.
Mercer, to consider and report thereon.

A petition from sundry inhabitants of the city and county of Baltimore, praying an extension of the Falls
turnpike, was preferred, read, and referred to Mr. Stephen, Mr. Shaaff, Mr. Harryman, Mr. Lemmon and Mr.
Chapman, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Bruce, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the bill, entitled, An additional supplement to an
act, entitled, An act for the relief of insolvent debtors, as amended; which was read the first time and ordered
to lie on the table.

The bill, entitled, An additional supplement to an act, entitled, An act relating to negroes, and to repeal
the acts of assembly therein mentioned, was read the second time and passed.

Mr. Hall, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act authorising the trustees of the
poor of Prince-George's county to make an exchange of part of the lands belonging to said poor-house; which
was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Ellicott, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled. An act to repeal part of the act of
assembly therein mentioned; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

ORDERED, That the same have a second reading on Tuesday next.

A petition from sundry inhabitants of Baltimore county, counter to the petition for an extension of the Fall
turnpike, was preferred, read, and referred to the committee appointed on the petition to which it is counter.