mines within the State in order to maintain proper sanitation, ven-
tilation, and safety standards in all mining operations. The Bureau
has further jurisdiction over the weighing of all coal mined in the
State. The testing and inspecting of the scales and weights of all
coal dealers within the State (except in Baltimore City) comes
within the jurisdiction of the Bureau (Code 1939, Art. 89, sec. 62).
All persons or corporations engaging in open-pit or strip mining op-
erations are required to register with the Bureau previous to the
beginning of their operations and to report periodically during such
operations. Upon the completion of such mining operations, the cuts
must, be so covered as to make possible the reclamation of the land.
The Bureau of Mines examines all applicants for certificates of com-
petency as mine foremen, assistant mine foremen, and fire bosses. In
cooperation with the University of Maryland, the Bureau conducts
courses in mining operations at Frostburg (Code 1947 Supp. Art.
89, secs. 180-192).
Publications: Monthly Notes, published monthly..

1948 1949
Appropriations $30,156 $30,462
Employees: 7..

DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

The Commission:.

Chairman: B. H. Willier, 1949.

E. N. Cory, 1950; Franklin D. Day, Secretary, 1952; Earle
T. Hawkins, 1948; Carroll B. Nash, 1951.
R. V. Truitt, Director.

George B. Gray, Administrative Assistant
Solomons Telephone: Solomons 2771.

The Department of Research and Education was created in 1941
to function as a fact gathering and fact disseminating agency in the
promotion of conservation work in Maryland, and to carry on the
work of the State Weather Service. Supervision of the Department
is vested in a Commission of Research and Education, consisting of
five members appointed by the Governor from among the citizens of
the State, each of whom must have either special training in or expe-
rience with natural resources. The members are appointed for terms
of five years with overlapping tenure of office. The members of the
Commission select their Chairman and appoint the Director of the
Department and such staff members as may be necessary (Code
1947 Supp. Art. 19A, secs. 120-126)..

The Department maintains four major programs—research, educa-
tion, hatcheries, and the State Weather Service. The center for the
researches and the educational program is at Solomons Island, the
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. With the creation of the Depart-
ment in 1941, work was expanded to cover the several fields of con-
servation in the State. The research program is concerned primarily
with the applied aspects of conservation. Biological and economic
problems, including hydrography and pollution, dealing with the
more prominent fisheries have been emphasized. A periodical, re-
search reports and educational pamphlets are issued. Emphasis in
this work is on the school and college level. Lectures and demonstra-
tions are provided for adults through clubs and other agencies.
Courses are held at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory for grad-
uate students, teachers, school administrators and conservation law.