The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-05-12
LCHAPTER 46s.1
AN ACT to Regulate the Taking Of
Oysters in the Potomac River

AN ACT to Regulate the Taking of
Oysters in the Potomac River.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Cen
eral Assembly of Maryland. That all
oysters taken from any natural rocks,
beds or shoals in the waters of the
Potomac. River, shall be culled on their
natural rocks, beds or shoals as taken.
and oysters whose shells measure less
than two and one-half inches in length
measuring from hinge to mouth and
all shells shall be included in said Gull
ing and replaced upon said rocks beds
or shoals, provided that oysters once
passed from the cutler less than the
prohibited size, and all shells shall
be considered as not having been Gull
ed. according to the provisions of this
Act; provided, that when small oysters
are adhering so closely to the she'll OF
marketable oyster as to render re-
movable impossible without destroying
the young oyster then it shall not
be necessary to remove it, And it
shall be unlawful for any person to
take. buy or sell the small oysters and
shells from the natural rocks, beds
and shoals as aforesaid, or to take.
buy. sell or have in possession oysters
less than two and one-half inches in
length from hinge to mouth. When
ever any inspector or other officer shall
have reason TO believe that this Act
has been violated with reference to the
culling of oysters. said inspector or
other officer. is hereby authorized to
examine the cargo of any boat or YES
sci and if upon examination of said
cargo. the said inspector or other Off
Ger. shall find that five per centum or
more of said cargo shall consist of
shells and oysters whose shells meas
ure less than two and one-half in
ches in length. measuring from hinge
to mouth the captain of the boat or
other person in charge of said boat
shall be deemed to have violated this
Act and upon conviction. if of a
dredge- boat or q vender of oysters.
shall be fined not less than one hun
bred dollars nor more than two hun
bred and fifty dollars. and confined in
Jail not less than thirty days or more
than six months And said cargo con-
fisca ted and returned to the natural
beds under the supervision of the oys-
ter inspector or other officer making
the arrest and the boat or vessel on
which said oysters are found. shall
be held as security for the. payment
of said fine: if a boat in which only
oyster tongs are used, the said cap
tain or other person in charge, shall
be fined not less than fifty dollars nor
more than one hundred and twenty
five dollars. and confined in Jail not
less than fifteen days nor more than
three months, and the said cargo con-
fscated and returned to the natural
beds under the supervision of the oYs-
ter inspector or other officer making
the arrest. And the boat of vessel
on which said oysters are found shall
be held as security for the payment of
said fine: provided however. that when
any person shall be found with ovs-
ters in violation of this Act he shall
be presumed to be a dredger or vender
of oysters. and if he claims to be a
longer. the burden shall be upon said
oerson to show that he is n longer
Because of the necessity that legis-
A,tinn REGULATING the taking IF ovstA~e