HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      3533

WHEREAS, According to the rules of the fishing contest,
several species of fish with various predetermined monetary
prizes were tagged beginning in April, 1985 and continuing
through September 30, 1985; and

WHEREAS, Among its other rules, the fishing contest stated
that fish must be caught in a "sporting manner" on rod and reel
and that the contest was open to the public for free; and

WHEREAS, On or about 6:30 p.m. on May 21, 1985, Mr. Owen
Lewis of Wingate, MD 21675 caught a sea trout with the words
"April 13" on its tag; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lewis was the first person to return a fish to
the Department of Natural Resources for collection of a
predetermined prize of $1,000; and

WHEREAS, When Mr. Lewis applied for his prize of $1,000, the
Department of Natural Resources would not award the predetermined
prize of $1,000 because it stated that the sea trout tagged
"April 13" was released on May 20, 1985 and, thus, violated a
contest rule that a fish must be at large for two days after
tagging before becoming eligible for prizes; and

WHEREAS, It was logical and Mr. Lewis had every reason to
believe that the sea trout he caught on May 21, 1985 was released
on the date indicated on its tag, namely April 13, 1985, and
that, under the rules of good sportsmanship, he was entitled to
receive his prize; and

WHEREAS, On June 4, 1985, the Honorable Torrey C. Brown,

M.D., Secretary of Natural Resources, wrote to Mr. Lewis stating

that Mr. Lewis was not eligible for the stated prize of $1,000

since the sea trout was not at large for the requisite two-day
period; and

WHEREAS, In the same letter, the Honorable Torrey C. Brown,
M.D., Secretary of Natural Resources, awarded Mr. Lewis $200 for
being the first person to turn in a tag in the "Catch a Fortune
Sportfishing Contest", but that the $200 was not a prize and was
a special award for being the first return; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Department of Natural Resources is requested to act in a sporting
manner and give Mr. Lewis the full amount of the prize to which
he was entitled, and not rely on flimsy excuses previously given
to Mr. Lewis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be forwarded by the
Department of Legislative Reference to the Honorable Torrey C.
Brown, M.D., Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, Tawes
State Office Building, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 and
Mr. Owen Lewis, Wingate, MD 21675.

Signed May 13, 1986.