WORCESTER COUNTY. 5241

1892, ch. 130. 1920 Code, sec. 214.

167- It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from the natural
rocks in the waters of the Synepuxent Bay in Worcester County any
oysters of a less size than two and one-half inches in length, and that any
person upon conviction of having removed such oysters of a less size than
two and one-half inches in length from said natural rocks, or of having
such oysters of a less size than two and one-half inches in length so
removed from said natural rocks in said waters, in his possession, shall
be fined not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hundred
dollars, or be sentenced to the county jail or the House of Correction for
not less than one month, nor for more than six months; provided, how-
ever, that nothing in the act shall be construed as interfering with the
taking of oysters of any size from private beds.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 24, sec. 172. 1920 Code, sec. 215.

168. It shall be lawful for any resident citizen of Worcester County
to plant or lay down oysters in any of the waters of the Synepuxent Bay
or its tributaries, except upon the natural rocks in said bay or its tribu-
taries ; and any person so planting shall keep the said oysters so planted,
staked with stakes, bushes or buoys and four stakes, bushes or buoys shall
constitute a sufficient quantity to mark said ground so planted; that is
to say, one at each corner of said ground; and in case of storms or ice
taking up said stakes, bushes or buoys, or a part of them, one stake, busk
or buoy shall be sufficient notice that oysters have been planted there,
until the owner has sufficient time thereafter to restake said oyster grounds;
and if any person, through mistake or ignorance, should plant upon a
natural rock, or part of a rock, it shall be the duty of the County Com-
missioners of said county, upon the sworn statement of any informant,
to appoint and commission three disinterested men, on oath, to go on said
oyster ground with the owner and examine and determine the same; and
if they shall find a rock in said oyster ground so staked more than twenty
feet square, in any one place in said ground, they shall value the same
upon oath, and the person so planting shall pay the amount of said valua-
tion to the County Commissioners for the use of said county, and also
pay the expense of said commission, not to exceed ten dollars in any one
case; and in case said commission shall not find a rock in said ground so
planted, more than twenty feet square in any one place, then the informer
shall be held bound to pay the expense of said commission, which may be
collected as all other claims are collected; or the County Commissioners
may require the informer to deposit the amount required to pay said com-
mission, not to exceed ten dollars in any one case.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 24, sec. 173. 1920 Code, sec. 216.

169. It shall not be lawful for any person, other than the owner, his
agent or employee, to work in or among any planted oysters, or within
the stakes, bushes or buoys, or where oysters are known to be planted,
with any tongs, rakes or any other instrument by which oysters can be