ART. 72] OYSTER CULTURE. 1599

1906, ch. 711, sec. 97.

99. One of the steamers of the state fishery force shall be kept in

commission under the command of the deputy commander, and subject
to the control and direction of the commissioners from the first day of
April in each year until the first day of October following, to assist the
board in the performance of the duties imposed upon it by this sub-title,
and the deputy commander in each of the several districts of this State
shall also be subject to the control and direction of the said commis-
sioners during the closed season for taking and catching oysters with
rakes and tongs during the time the said commissioners shall be engaged
in the respective districts in locating natural oyster beds, bars and rocks,
and shall give the said commissioners every assistance in their power.
As to the state fishery force, see sec. 34. et seq.

1906, ch. 711, sec. 98.

100. After the survey provided for herein shall have been completed,
it shall be the duty of the board of shell fish commissioners to lease, in
the name of the State of Maryland, tracts or parcels of land beneath the
waters of this State, whether within the limits of the counties or else-
where, in the area to be opened for oyster culture, according to the provi-
sions of this sub-title; provided, that no tract so leased, if situated
within the territorial limits of any county in this State, shall contain
less than one acre of land, and if situated in any other place, no tract so
leased shall contain less than five acres. It shall be the duty of said
commissioners to require that the tracts so leased shall be as nearly rec-
tangular as is convenient. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners
to demand from each lessee payment of the rent each year in advance.
No person shall be permitted by lease, assignment or in any other man-
ner to acquire a greater amount of land than ten acres situated within
the territorial limits of any of the counties, or one hundred acres in any
other place. Leases shall be made only to residents of Maryland. The
terms of such leases shall be twenty years, and the annual rent reserved
to the State shall be one dollar per acre for each of the first two years of
said term of twenty years; two dollars per acre for the third year; three
dollars per acre for the fourth year; four dollars per acre for the fifth
year, and five dollars per acre during the remainder of the term. If any
part of the rent reserved under such leases shall remain unpaid for more
than six months after the same becomes due, such lease or leases shall be
declared void, and the land shall revert to the State, and may be leased
again in accordance with the provisions of this sub-title. The said
commissioners may, at the request of any lessee, if it shall appear
equitable so to do, upon cause shown in writing, cancel his lease as to
the whole or a part of the lands leased.

1906, ch. 711, sec. 99.

101. In case the survey provided for by this sub-title shall not have
been completed within one year from April 2, 1906, then it shall be