CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES 701

propagation of birds and game of all kinds, the Commission to make an
equitable distribution of said fund among the counties of the State, in
proportion to the amounts contributed to said fund by the respective
counties.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 10. 1912, sec. 10. 1916, ch. 682.

10. The Commission is empowered to provide for the vessels of the
State Fishery Force such arms, ammunition and equipment as may be
required, and the Commission may from time to time make such repairs
and additions to the vessels of the force as may in its discretion be neces-
sary for the efficiency of the force, provided that all moneys expended by
the Commission for such purposes shall be paid out of the Conservation
Fund under its control, unless other funds are specially appropriated there-
for by the General Assembly.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 11. 1912, sec. 11. 1916, ch. 682.

11. It shall be the duty of the Commission, on or before the second
Monday in January in each year, to prepare and present to the Governor
of the State a printed report showing the operations of the Commission
during the preceding year, in which report shall be plainly set forth the
amounts of revenue derived from the several industries under the super-
vision of the Commission, and also the amounts of money expended by
the Commission and for what purpose. It shall be the duty of the Com-
mission to recommend from time to time such further legislation as it
may deem advisable.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 12. 1912, sec. 12. 1916, ch. 682.

12. The main object of this Article being to centralize and vest in the
Conservation Commission entire control of the above mentioned natural
resources of the State, it is hereby declared to be the intent of this Article
that the said Commission shall supersede the former boards and officers
to whom the administration of the law relating to such resources respec-
tively has heretofore been entrusted. In case any section or provision of
this Article shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not be
held to affect any other section or provision of this Article.¹

Rare Earths and Minerals.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 13. 1929, ch. 574, sec. 13.

13. Every person, firm, association or corporation taking any minerals,
or rare earths, under the provisions of this sub-title, shall file, on or before
the last Monday in January of each year, with the State Conservation
Commission a written statement duly verified, showing the gross tons of
two thousand pounds the amount of mineral or rare earths taken by such
person, firm, association or corporation from such land, during the year
ending December 31st, last preceding, on which royalty per gross ton is to
be paid as is hereinafter provided for. Any such person, firm or corpora-
tion neglecting or refusing to furnish such statement or make such pay-
ment shall be subject to a fine of $100 for each day after the said last Mon-
day in January such person, firm, association or corporation shall fail to
furnish such statement or make such payment, and in addition to said fine

¹ Sec. 2 of the act of 1916, ch. 682, provides for the repeal of all acts or parts of acts
inconsistent with said act.