CHAPTER MDCXCII.

A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT TO THE ACT, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO REGULATE THE FISHERIES IN THE RIVER SCHUYLKILL."1

Whereas, in order to improve the navigation of the river Schuylkill, dams have been erected therein, by reason whereof the channel in many places has become very narrow and contracted. Therefore:

[Section I.] (Section I, P. L.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That if any person or persons from and after the passing of this act shall set up, fix or fasten any kind of hoop-net, or other net or nets, or other device or obstruction whatsoever, across any navigable channel of the river Schuylkill, whereby the fish may be obstructed from going up the said river, or shall, during his or their fishing in the said river, employ any person or persons to obstruct the fish passing up through the said narrow channels, by riding in the same or beating the water with poles, every such person or persons so offending or who shall be aiding or assisting therein, and being thereof convicted before any justice of the peace, where he or they shall be apprehended, which justice is hereby authorized to hear, try and determine the same, shall forfeit the sum of sixty dollars for every such offence, to be paid to the informer or prosecutor, or suffer two months' imprisonment, saving to the parties, respectively, the right of appeal from the judgment of said justice to the next court of quarter sessions of the peace, of the proper county, upon condition that he or they give security to prosecute the same to effect.

[Section II.] (Section II, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the owner or owners of fishing

1 Passed March 28, 1785; Chapter 1146.

places, or parts used as fisheries, within the said river, shall give a particular description of the same, together with their names, to the nearest magistrate on that side of the river where he, she or they shall dwell, who shall enter the same in a book to be kept for that purpose, for which he shall receive the sum of twenty cents, to be paid by such owner or owners thereof, and the said owner or owners shall moreover, during the fishing seasons, have and keep their names written in legible characters on a board, which shall be affixed at the place of drawing out the seine and exhibited to full view, and any person or persons neglecting or refusing to give a particular description of his, her or their fishing place, and enter his, her or their names, as aforesaid, with the nearest justice, as aforesaid, or who shall not exhibit his, her or their names on a board, as is before directed, shall, in either case, forfeit the sum of fourteen dollars, to be paid to the informer or prosecutor of such offence, shall be committed, saving the liberty of appeal to such parties, respectively, as is mentioned in the first section of this act.

(Section III, P. L.) Whereas disputes have arisen between the owners or superintendents of the several bridges on the river Schuylkill and the owners or persons having the charge of boats or rafts, which have occasion to ascend or descend the said river, with respect to opening the said bridges for the accommodation of the said boats or rafts. And whereas it is necessary that the causes from which those disputes have proceeded should be removed, as far as may be consistent with the interests of the parties and the public at large: Therefore:

[Section III.] Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the passing of this act, the owners or superintendents of the several bridges on the river Schuylkill, shall, within one hour after an application shall be made to such owners or superintendents by an owner or person having the care or direction of a boat or boats or rafts, open the same for the passage of such boat or boats or rafts, without fee or reward.

Passed April 11, 1793. Recorded L. B. No. -, p. —. (not given).

CHAPTER MDCXCIII.

AN ACT FOR EXTENDING THE BENEFITS EXPERIENCED FROM THE INSTITUTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL.

Whereas it appears from the accounts annually laid before the legislature, and from other authenic documents, that the institution of the Pennsylvania Hospital hath been extensively useful, not only to the diseased and unfortunate in body and mind of this state, but to those in like circumstances from other states and countries, and that the limits of the present building are insufficient to receive the number of patients, which from the increased population of this state and the intercourse with other states and countries, are daily applying for admission to the benefits of the institution, and from the mode of conduct pursued in the said house by the managers and physicians thereof, the legislature are firmly persuaded that the grant hereinafter contained will not only meet the approbation of their constituents, but of the friends of humanity throughout the civilized world, to whom a knowledge thereof shall come, and whereas the extending the usefulness of the institution to the further purposes of a lying-in foundling hospital is deemed to be an object deserving of public encouragement: Therefore:

[Section I.] (Section I, P. L.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That twenty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents be, and they are hereby, granted to the contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned, out of the principal and interest which now is, or on the first day of January last was, or hereafter may, become due to this commonwealth, in pursuance of an act passed on the

twenty-sixth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, entitled "An act for emitting the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds in bills of credit on loan, and providing a fund for the payment of public debts," and of the bonds, mortgages and other securities which have been taken by the loan officer, in pursuance of the said act, and which are now in the possession and custody of the state treasurer, [at] it shall and may be lawful for the state treasurer, at the request of the treasurer of the contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, at any time after the passing of this act, to pay over to the said treasurer, all such money as shall have been paid into the treasury of this commonwealth since the said first day of January last, in discharge of the said bonds, mortgages and other securities, taken in pursuance of the said act, and to assign, transfer, and set over to the managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, all the said bonds, mortgages and securities now in his possession, whereon any part of the said principal and interest may at the time of such assignment remain due, taking receipts therefor from the said treasurer of the contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, which receipts shall be available to the state treasurer in the settlement of his account with this commonwealth.

Provided always nevertheless, That previous to the payment of the said moneys, or the assignment of the said securities, or any of them, such sufficient security, as shall be approved by the governor of this commonwealth, shall be given by the said managers on behalf of the said institution, with condition that they and their successors shall use their utmost endeavors to collect the moneys due on the said securities, and shall, within three years from and after the passing of this act, pay to the treasurer of this commonwealth, such surplus as may remain in their hands (beyond the said sum of twenty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents), together with interest thereon, from the time of their receiving the same. [Section II.] (Section II, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the managers of the said con

1 Chapter 672.

tribution and hospital shall be, and are hereby, appointed trustees, for the purpose of collecing the moneys due as aforesaid, and shall have, use, exercise and enjoy the same powers and authorities, which by the said recited act were given to the trustees of the said loan office, and by the ninth section of an act passed on the first day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, entitled "An act to enforce the due collection of the revenues of this state, and for other purposes therein mentioned," were transferred to and vested in the treasurer of the state, touching the collection of the same.

Provided, That nothing in this act contained, shall in any de gree affect such proceedings as have already taken place, for the recovery of any of the moneys due on the said bonds, mortgages or securities, but the same shall be conducted in the same manner and form as if this act had not been passed, excepting only that the said managers shall, as trustees aforesaid, conduct and superintend the same, in the same manner as the state treasurer might or could otherwise have done.

And provided also, That nothing in this act contained, shall in anywise be construed to affect such exonerations from, or extensions of the time of making payment of any of the moneys due or to become due, in manner aforesaid, as the legislature have or hereafter may think just and necessary, on behalf of any of the said obligors or mortgagors, who have been or may hereafter be liable to pay the same.

[Section III.] (Section III, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital shall, and they are hereby enjoined and required to expend the moneys hereby granted, in the erection, finishing and furnishing, for the accommodation of the diseased in body and mind, one building fronting the west part of their hospital lot, at the same distance from Ninth street as the present building is distant from Eighth street, and of the same form so as to be a wing in all respects, as nearly as may be uniform thereto in external appearance, and with such variation in the internal apartments, as experience has shown to be necessary

1Chapter 1506.