INTERSTATE FERRIES AND THE COMMERCE CLAUSE

The Constitution of the United States confers upon Congress the power to regulate commerce among the several states; the transportation of passengers and freight across a navigable river from one state to another by ferryboat, however short the distance traversed, or frequent the trips made, is interstate commerce. It is the purpose of this study to point out what action Congress has taken under the power thus conferred upon it relative to interstate ferries and to determine the relative spheres of authority of the states and of the National Government over this subject.