OYSTERS. 921

the value of the land so leased; provided, however, that no land shall be
leased at a less price than one dollar ($1. 00) per acre. If any part of the
rent reserved under such leases shall remain unpaid for more than sixty
days after the same becomes due, such lease or leases may at the option of
said Department be declared void, and in that event the land shall revert to
the State and may be leased again in accordance with the provisions of this
section. The said Department 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. At the expiration of any lease
now in force, there shall be allowed an additional period of 3 years to all
such lessees and at the expiration of the said 3-year additional period, the
leased bottoms shall revert to public use and anyone desiring to lease the
same shall make application in the manner now prescribed by law; pro-
vided, however, that the application of lessee shall be considered as hav-
ing prior right and shall be given first consideration in making such leases.
Protests against the leasing of such bottoms after the 3-year additional
period shall be filed in the regular way, as now provided by law. ¹

An. Code, 1924, sec. 129. 1912, sec. 118. 1906. ch. 711, sec. 111. 1927, ch. 604.

129. It shall be lawful at any time after the closed season for taking
oysters, to take oysters from such natural beds or bars in Chesapeake Bay
as the Commission may mark out for that purpose, and at such time as
the Commission may designate, but not to exceed one month in any one
year and under such regulations as said Commission may from time to
time prescribe; and, provided, however, that said oysters may be sold only
for the purposes now permitted under the existing laws of Maryland, dur-
ing the season of the year above mentioned; and in addition thereto, to
persons engaged in the industry of planting and cultivating oysters within
the area designated by this sub-title, the same to be delivered only upon
lands which may have been leased under the provisions of this sub-title for
said purposes of planting or cultivation. ²

1931, ch. 432, sec. 154A.

154A. On and after June 1, 1931, all the waters of Worcester County
shall be subject to the provisions of Article 72 of the Code of Public Gen-
eral Laws of Maryland relating to oysters, the same as the waters of Chesa-
peake Bay and its tributaries, except the provisions of the following sections
of said Article, viz: 98, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107. 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 126, 128, 131, 153 and 154;
and except such changes and modifications in the Oyster Culture Laws
as provided in this sub-title.

¹ Sec. 2 of ch. 610 of acts of 1927 repealed all laws inconsistent therewith to extent
of such inconsistency.

² Sec. 2 of ch. 604 of acts of 1927 repealed all laws inconsistent therewith to extent
of such inconsistency.