OYSTERS. 925

The Advisory Committee on Oysters shall advise, and work with the Con-
servation Commission in the buying of shells and oysters for planting,
shall supervise planting and shall suggest and recommend places and bars,
in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay as well as in the Bay itself, where
planting is most needed. On request of said Committee, or any of them,
the Conservation Commission, shall have power to order the local Boats
of the State Fishery Force, with the Deputy Commanders, to be placed at
its or his disposal for use in its work. Said Committee shall also suggest
and recommend the best time and season for planting, each member of
said Committee determining the time and season to be recommended for
his own district. The Committee and each of them shall assist the Con-
servation Commission in detecting and reporting violations of the oyster,
fish and crab laws of this State, and generally in the work of bettering con-
ditions in the oyster, fish and crab industry.

Reserved Areas.

An. Code, 1924. sec. 156. 1912, sec. 132. 1914, ch. 753. 1917, ch. 12, sec. 132.

1927, ch. 123, sec. 156.

156. The Conservation Commission of Maryland is hereby authorized
to select and reserve for oyster conservation, as provided in this sub-title,
any portion or portions of the natural beds, bars and rocks of the Chesa-
peake Bay in dredger's area to be replenished by transplanting of small
oysters, shells or other cultch, or in other feasible manner which the Com-
mission may deem best. The Commission shall give notice of said reser-
vation by advertisement to be inserted once a week for three successive
weeks, in a newspaper published in Baltimore City, and in the County
where the reserved area is located, which advertisement shall describe the
area reserved and give the date on which the reservation takes effect, and
shall warn all persons not to catch or disturb oysters upon such reserved
area until further notice from the Commission for re-opening same for
public use. Whenever in the discretion of the Commission such reserved
. areas shall have been replenished, it shall fix dates for re-opening and
closing same to the public, and shall give notice thereof by proper adver-
tisement inserted as above provided. Whenever after the re-opening of the
. area, the Commission in its discretion deems it advisable to close said
area before the date advertised in said notice, then the area shall be re-
served against the further catching of oysters for public use. No further
notice to oystermen is necessary than the notification by the Deputy Com-
mander in charge of said area. Any person who shall catch or disturb
oysters upon such reserved areas between the date reservation begins and
the date fixed by the Commission for re-opening same, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before any Judge or Justice of
the Peace of the County having jurisdiction, or if in the Chesapeake Bay
in the County most accessible or convenient shall be fined not less than
$100. 00 nor more than $200. 00 or confined in jail not less than 30 days
nor more than 6 months, either or both, and the said cargo confiscated and