Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-05-17
CHAPTER AGA
An Act to Regulate the Taking of

/ An Act To Regulate the Taking of
( oysters in the Potomac River.
/ section !. BE IL enacted by the
/ General 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 M
taken. and oysters whose shells meas.
nre less than two and One-half inches
In length. measuring from hinge tn
mouth. and all shells shall be incIud-
ed TN said culling and replaced upon
said rocks. beds or shoals, provided
that oysters once passed from the cul.
Ter less than the prohibited size. and
all shells shall be- considered as NOT
having been cull.d. according To the
provisions Of this Act: provided. that
when small oysters are adhering SO
closely To the shell of a marketable
oyster as to render removal impossi.
bic without destroying the young oys.
ter then IL shall not be- necessary To
remove II. And II shall be- unlawful
Tor any person to take. buy or sell the
small oysters and shells from the IA.
tural rocks. beds and shoals as afOTe.-
SAID. or To take. buy. or sell or have
~ possession oysters less than two
and one-half inches In length from
hinge To mouth. Whenever any in-
spector or other officer shall have req
son to believe that this Act has been
violated with reference to the cullIng
oil oysters. said inspector or other of
hc"r. Is hereby authorized To examine
the cargo Of any boat or vessel and
II uIon examination OF said cargo. the
said Inspector or other officer, shall
hat hNa.
said cargo shall consist of shells and
oysters whose shells measure less
than two and Onehalf inches In
length. measuring from hinge to
mouth. the captain OF the boat or
other person In charge Of said boat.
shall Ice deemed to have violated this
Act. and upon conviction, IL a dredge-
boat or "A vender Of oysters, shall be
lined not less than one hundred dol.
lars nor more than two hundred and
my dollars. and confined in jail not
less Than thirty DAYS or more than six
months. And said cargo confiscated
ana returned To the natural beds un-
der the supervision Of the oyster In
sp"ct"r or other officer making the
arrest. aud the boat or vessel on
"hlch said oysters are found shall he
h"id as security for the payment of
SAID hnc. " "a boat In which only oys-
I"I longs are used. the said CAPTAIN
Oh oth"r person in charge shall be
hhed not less than fifty dollars nor
more than one hundred and twenty.
nv" dollars. and confined In iaiI ma;
less than fifteen days nor more than
'hfee months. and said cargo coufis.
Gated and returned to the natural
beds under the supervision Of the oys.
Ger inspector or other officer making
The arrest. And the boat or vessel
0n which said oysters are found shall
10 held as security for the payment
OF said fine; provided. however. that
when any person shall he found with
oysters In violation Of this Act he
shhii be presumed To be a dredger or
vender Of oysters. and II he claims
tn he tonger, the burden shall be
upon said person to show that he is a
longer. Because Of the necessity that
legislation regulating the taking of
oysters In the Potomac river shall he
concurrent as To the States Of Mary
land and Virginia. u Is further Dro-
vlhei mat this Act shall take effect
from the date Of its passage. DrOyId.
ed. concurrent Legislation has hereto
fore been passed by the General As
sembly of Virginia or II not uassed
then Immediately upon the passage
thereof.
Section :. And be II enacted That
rEon III" taking effcc; In the State Of
virginia Of the provisions prescribed
ia the preceding section. the Cover.
""r 0f Maryland shall issue his bro
clamati"n declaring the provisions Of
This Act To be effective.
Approved, April =. 1906