ART. 71.] OYSTERS.

183

appropriating the same in the office of the clerk of
the circuit court for the county wherein such land
may be located ; and provided, also, that such location
and appropriation shall not injure, obstruct or impede
the free navigation of such waters, but no such loca-
tion and appropriation shall interfere with the rights
reserved by sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine
of this article ; provided, that no natural bar or bed
of oysters shall be located or appropriated.

See 22 Md. 380.

30. If any creek, cove or inlet not exceeding one
hundred yards in breadth at its mouth make into
the land or lands, the owner or owners or other
lawful occupant or occupants shall have the exclu-
sive right to use said creek, cove or inlet for deposit-
ing, bedding or sowing oysters or other shell fish,
although such creek, cove or inlet may not be
included in the lines of any patent.

Ibid. B. 30.
Exclusive
rights of
owners.

31. Any person who shall take with a drag,
dredge, scoop, scrape, rakes or tongs, or any instru-
ment whatever, any oysters or other shell fish im-
bedded, planted or sown in accordance with the
provisions of sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine
of this article, or shall carry or attempt to carry the
the same away, shall be deemed guilty of a felony
and be liable to indictment, and on conviction thereof
in any court in this state having criminal jurisdiction
shall be sentenced by the judge of such court to the
penitentiary for a term not exceeding five years and
not less than one year.

Ibid s 31.
Penalties for
taking oysters
imbedded, &c.

32. The state's portion of all fines and forfeitures
occurring under section — of this article shall be
paid by the sheriff or other officer collecting the
same to the clerk of the circuit court of the county or
the clerk of the court of common pleas of the city of
Baltimore, where such fine or forfeiture may occur,
and such clerk shall account for the same to the comp-
troller of the treasury in his semi-annual returns.

Ibid. s. 32.
Disposition or
fines, &c.

33. All licenses to take or catch oysters with
scoops, scrapes, drag or dredge in the waters of the
Chesapeake bay shall be numbered, and the owner

Ibid. s. 33.
Number of
license to be
displayed on
boat, &c