2730 ARTICLE 72 .

inbefore for natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, which said crabbing
sections shall be exempt from leasing for oyster culture.

This section referred to in construing art. 54, see. 47—see notes thereto. Hodson v.
Nelson. 122 Md. 338.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 115. 1912, sec. 99. 1906, ch. 711, sec. 97.

112. 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 Commission
during the closed season for taking and catching oysters with rakes and
tongs during the time the said Commission shall be engaged in the re-
spective districts in locating natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, and shall
give the said Commission every assistance in their power.¹
As to the state fishery force, see sec. 37, et seq.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 116. 1912, sec. 100. 1906, ch. 711, sec. 98. 1912, ch. 539, sec. 98.
1914, ch. 265, sec. 98. 1927, ch. 610.

113. After the survey or resurvey provided for herein shall have been
completed, it shall be the duty of the Conservation Department 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 con-
tain less than five acres. It shall be the duty of said Department to re-
quire that the tracts so leased shall be as nearly rectangular as is convenient.
It shall be the duty of the said Department to demand from each lessee pay-
ment of the rent each year in advance. No person shall be permitted, by
lease, assignment or in any other manner, to acquire a greater amount of
land than thirty acres situated within the territorial limits of any of the
Counties, or five hundred acres in any other place; provided, however, that
an individual may acquire a tract not exceeding one hundred acres of land
beneath the waters of Tangier Sound. Leases of such lands shall be made
only to residents of Maryland. The term of such leases shall be twenty
years, and the annual rent therefor shall be such sum as in the judgment
of the Conservation Department is a proper one and commensurate with
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

¹ This section repealed by Ch. 353, 1939. But as Act is subject to referendum vote
at the November election, 1940, this section will not be repealed unless a majority of
the voters voting thereon are in favor of said Act. If said Act is approved, this section
will be repealed as of Dec. 5, 1940.