72 MARYLAND MANUAL.
The purchase of land and the construction of Bear Creek
Station, Garrett County, that has produced since 1928, 20,000
trout yearly ranging in size from 7 to 14 inches. These have
been stocked in the waters of Garrett County.
The leasing and operation of the Cushwa Rearing Station
since 1929, where thousands of trout from 7 to 26 inches are
stocked yearly in suitable waters of Washington County.
Steady progress is being made in the development, propagation and
restoration of fish life to the interest of the angler and those inter-
ested in conservation work.
The purchase of 7,000 adult bass, ranging in size from one-half to
five pounds, from the commercial fishermen and transplanting them
in fresh water ponds and streams has resulted in much favorable
comment from the inland fishermen. Plans call for an extension of
this program.
During the Special Session of the Legislature, 1936, the following
changes were made in the Conservation Laws:
Oysters: (Article 72)
Chap. 104, Amending Section 18..Making it lawful to take
oysters by use of hand scrapes from the waters of Worcester
County at any time.
Chap. l8, Amending Section 26..Reducing the dredging license.
Chap. 100, Amending Section 5..Granting the tongers - thirty
days in which to license.
Clams: (Article 39)
Chap. 110, Amending Section 101A..Reducing the license fee
for clammers.
Crabs: (Article 39)
Chap. 138, Amending Section 98A..Granting the Conserva-
tion Commission the power and authority, in its discretion, to
prohibit the taking of crabs in any of the waters of Maryland
during the month of November, 1936.
Fish: (Article 39)
Chap. 119, Amending Section 47..Authorizing fishing within
800 yards of the natural shore line in Cecil County.
STATE GAME DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND.
Game.
The State Game Department, or Game Division, of the Conserva-
tion Commission acts as an agency for the enforcement of game and
fresh water fish law and is supported entirely from receipts thru the
sale of hunting licenses, which are credited to the State Game Protec-
tion Fund and disbursed for the protection and propagation of game,
however, the deputy game wardens enforce the fish laws at all points
above tide water and receive their compensation from the State Game
Protection Fund and not from the anglers license. The General Treas-
ury does not appropriate a single penny to the support of the Division.
The State Game Department was created by Chapter 293, General
Assembly of 1896 and consolidated with the Conservation Commission
by Chapter 682, Acts of 1916 when said Commission was created.
Prior to 1916 the General Assembly appropriated $2600 every two
years for support and maintenance for said Department. With only
one salaried officer, namely the State Game Warden, it was impossible
for him, no matter how ambitious he may have been, to make a scratch
on the surface in the enforcement of the laws and, of course, did not
have one penny to expend for propagation.
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