1900. ] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 1575

"1. It shall be unlawful for any person to take or catch,
or have in possession in this State any terrapin, between
the first clay of April and the first day of November in
each year, the term terrapin to apply to those known as
diamond back, skilpot and sliders. This section shall not
apply to Worcester, Dorchester, Calvert, Charles and St.
Mary's counties.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to take or catch
in this State any terrapin of a less size than five inches
in length on the bottom shell. This section not to apply
to Worcester county.

"3. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere
with or in any manner destroy terrapin eggs.

"4. None but bona fide residents of this State shall
take or catch terrapin therein.

"5. Any person violating any of the preceding sections
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction thereof before a justice of the peace of this State,
shall be fined a sum not less than five nor more than ten
dollars for each terrapin so taken or held in possession,
or for destroying such eggs, and the terrapin so held in
possession shall be confiscated and returned by the officer
making the arrest to the public natural waters for terra-
pin. One-half of all such fines to go to the informer and
the balance to the game warden.

"6. The possession by any person, of terrapin, between
the first day of April and the first day of November
shall be conclusive evidence of violation of this Article. "

"7. The constable, game warden and officers of the
State fishery force, shall, upon information of any one,
arrest any person or persons violating the provisions of
this Article, and take them before the nearest justice of
the peace to be dealt with in accordance with the pro-
visions of section 5.

"Sec. 2. That this Act shall not be construed, so as to
affect any prosecutions for violation of this Article or any
section thereof for offenses committed prior to the pas-
sage, of this Act. "

Which was read a second time.

Mr. Norris, from Committee on Hygiene, reported favor-
orably,