742

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

otherwise, at the discretion of the Commissioners
hereinafter named, said vessel and tenders not to
exceed in cost this appropriation, and to arm and
equip the same for the service hereinafter specified,
to be styled the State Oyster Police Force, and
the Governor, Treasurer, Comptroller, Superin-
tendent of Labor and Agriculture, and the Clerk

Commission-
ers of State
Oyster Police
Force.

of the Court of Appeals shall constitute a Board
to be styled the Commissioners of the State Oys-
ter Police Force, and they are directed to pur-
chase, arm and equip said steam vessel and ten-
ders, and the Treasurer of the State, upon the re-
quisition of said Commissioners, and the warrant
of the Comptroller is hereby directed to pay the
sum or sums necessary, not exceeding this and
any other appropriation hereinafter mentioned for
the purposes herein specified.

Board appoint
its officer.

Sec. 40. And be it enacted, That the Board of
Commissioners of the State Oyster Police Force,
shall have power to appoint a suitable person to
command said force, whose term of office shall be
for two years unless sooner removed for incompe-
tency or neglect of duty, and if said officer shall
fail to discharge his duty ; by reason of collusion
with those interested in evading the law, he shall
upon presentment, indictment and conviction, in
a Court of law, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and fined, or imprisonment or both at the discre-
tion of the Court.

Cruising.

Sec. 41. And be it enacted. That the command-
ing officer of said force be and he is hereby re-
quired to keep his vessel constantly cruising,
when circumstances will permit, wherever opposi-
tion to the oyster law has arisen, or is likely to
arise, within the boundaries of the State, and
that every locality where a violation of the law
exists, or is likely to arise, shall be visited as often
as the duties of the force and the condition of the
vessels will permit, and that a monthly report
shall be made to the Commissioners of all official
action taken under the law, and a strict and care-
ful journal kept of all duties performed, and the
circumstances connected therewith. The salary
of the chief officer shall be twenty-five hundred
dollars per annum, which shall be paid to him
monthly by the Treasurer upon the warrant of the
Comptroller, and he shall have power to appoint