PRINTER'S NO. 1286
No. 86 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY BOWLEY, MARKOSEK, CAPPABIANCA, STABACK, FAIRCHILD,
KAISER, COLE, COY, VEON, NAILOR, COLAIZZO, HECKLER, HERMAN,
BELFANTI, PESCI, PHILLIPS, FARMER, CAWLEY, SEMMEL, FREEMAN,
MIHALICH, ARGALL, LEVDANSKY, CLYMER, CIVERA, CARLSON,
STEELMAN, ITKIN, MELIO, OLASZ, COLAFELLA, GIGLIOTTI, JAROLIN,
WOZNIAK, E. Z. TAYLOR, BATTISTO, RICHARDSON, HESS, MRKONIC,
COHEN, TRELLO, HANNA, BROWN, STAIRS, TELEK, JAMES, B. SMITH,
MICHLOVIC, BUSH, ROEBUCK, FARGO, NOYE, STISH, ANGSTADT,
HARPER, KRUSZEWSKI, KENNEY, ALLEN, D. R. WRIGHT, GEIST,
HERSHEY, BELARDI, GODSHALL, RUDY, PISTELLA, McCALL, BILLOW,
LAUGHLIN, STEIGHNER, MARSICO, NYCE, ARMSTRONG, BROUJOS, SURRA
AND HASAY, APRIL 10, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 10, 1991
A RESOLUTION
1 Extending congratulations to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission on
2 the commission's 125th Anniversary.
3 WHEREAS, In 1866 a convention was held in Harrisburg to
4 investigate pollution, the foul conditions existing in the
5 Commonwealth's lakes and streams and the cessation of shad runs
6 caused by the construction of dams. The convention resulted in
7 Governor Andrew G. Curtin signing into law the act of March 30,
8 1866 (P.L.370, No.336), entitled "An act relating to the passage
9 of fish in the Susquehanna river, and certain of its
10 tributaries." The act created the office of commissioner of
11 fisheries and Colonel James J. Worrall was appointed by the
12 Governor to fill the post; and
13 WHEREAS, The act of April 28, 1873 (P.L.886, No.59), entitled
1 "An act to provide for the appointment of a board of fishery
2 commissioners, for the construction of fishways, and for the
3 protection and propagation of fish, and appropriating money for
4 the same," authorized the appointment of three persons to serve
5 as state fishery commissioners; and
6 WHEREAS, The act of June 11, 1879 (P.L.154, No.166), entitled
7 "An act providing for the propagation and protection of fish,
8 and appropriating moneys therefor," increased to six the number
9 of members of the board of fishery commissioners; and
10 WHEREAS, In 1886, the first brown trout eggs, numbering
11 10,000, were received from Germany and was hatched at the Corry
12 Hatchery; and
13 WHEREAS, In 1904, more than 10.2 million chain pickerel were
14 propagated. Propagation of the pickerel was a significant
15 advancement in fishery management since the pickerel had never
16 before been propagated in any fish cultural establishment in the
17 United States; and
18 WHEREAS, The first resident fishing license was established
19 in 1922. The fee for the license was $1. In the same year, the
20 Pennsylvania Fish Commission became self-supporting with the
21 receipt of $207,425.53 from license revenues; and
22 WHEREAS, The first issue of the award winning "Pennsylvania
23 Angler," the Keystone State's Official Fishing Magazine, was
24 published in 1931. The cost of a subscription was 50¢; and
25 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Fish Commission initiated a stream
26 management program in 1947; and
27 WHEREAS, The first fish-for-fun area was constituted in 1958
28 on the Left Branch of Young Woman's Creek in Clinton County; and
29 WHEREAS, 1966 marked the 100th Anniversary of the
30 establishment of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission; and
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1 WHEREAS, The Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was
2 designated as the official State fish in 1970; and
3 WHEREAS, Amid the devastation caused by Hurricane Agnes,
4 Pennsylvania Fish Commission personnel using patrol boats aided
5 stricken residents throughout this Commonwealth and received
6 special citations from Governor Milton J. Shapp; and
7 WHEREAS, The first female waterways' conservation officer was
8 employed by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in 1984. In the
9 same year, the first issue of "Boat Pennsylvania" was published;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, For 125 years the Pennsylvania Fish Commission has
12 faithfully and attentively served the citizens of this
13 Commonwealth; and
14 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Fish Commission has been a pioneer
15 in fish propagation and waterways' management; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives extend
17 congratulations to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission on the
18 occasion of its 125th Anniversary.
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