Whereas, commissioners duly appointed on the part of the state of Pennsylvania, and commissioners, duly appointed on the part of the state of New Jersey, for the purpose of settling the jurisdiction of the river Delaware, and islands within the same, have executed two instruments of an agreement for the purposes aforesaid, one for each state, which agreement is contained in the following words:

An agreement made and concluded between George Bryan, George Gray, and William Bingham, commissioners appointed by the legislature of the state of Pennsylvania for settling the jurisdiction of the river Delaware, and islands within the same, and Abraham Clark, Joseph Cooper, and Thomas Henderson, commissioners appointed by the legislature of the state of New Jersey for the like purpose.

Whereas, inconveniences and mischiefs have arisen, and may hereafter arise, from the uncertainty of jurisdiction within and on the river Delaware; therefore, to prevent the same, and in order that law and justice may hereafter in all cases be executed, and take effect within and upon the said river from shore to shore, in all parts and places thereof where the same river is the boundary between the said states, the said commissioners do agree and establish, for and in behalf of their respective states, in manner following, that is to say:

Rev.1877, p. 1181, Preamble (C.S. p. 5368, Preamble).