152

OYSTERS. [ART. 13.

water, for preserving, depositing, bedding, or sowing oysters, or
other shellfish, although such cove, creek, or inlet may not be in-
cluded in the lines of any patent.

Id s 25
Board of com-
missioners,
State Fishery
Force

24. The sail vessels armed and equipped for the service herein-
after specified, together with other vessels in the service of the State,
shall be styled the State Fishery Force, and the governor, treasurer,
comptroller, commissioner of the Land Office, and the clerk of the
Court of Appeals, shall constitute a board, to be styled the Commis-
sioners of the State Fishery Force.

Id s 26
Purchase of
guard boats,
arms, etc

25. Said commissioners are empowered and directed to purchase
for each of the guard boats belonging to said force one suitable
cannon, and such other arms and ammunition as may be necessary
to make them efficient.

Id s 27
Districts.

26. For the more efficient working of said fishery force, the
waters of the State shall be divided into six districts, of which the
waters of Somerset county shall constitute the first district; the
waters of Wicomico and Dorchester counties the second; the waters
of Talbot county the third; the waters of Kent and Queen Anne's
counties the fourth; the waters of Anne Arundel county the fifth;
the waters of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties the sixth;
each of which said districts shall be guarded by one sailing vessel,
except the second and sixth districts, which shall be guarded by two
sailing vessels, the vessels to be designated by the commissioners of
said fishery force, and shall be under the general supervision of the
commander of said force.

Id s 23
Commander of
force

2 7. The board of commissioners of the State Fishery Force shall
have power to appoint a suitable person to command said force, to
appoint the deputy commanders for their respective districts, from
persons of the counties whose waters comprise the different districts,
who shall be commissioned by the governor, and the said commander
and deputy commanders shall have power to appoint their subordi-

Term of office

nates and select their crews; and the term of office of said com-
mander and deputy commander shall be for two years, unless sooner
removed for incompetency or neglect of duty; and if any of said
officers shall fail in the discharge of his duty, by reason of collusion,
with parties interested in violating any of the provisions of this act,
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on indictment and convic-

Fine

tion in a Court of law, shall be fined or imprisoned at the discretion
of the court.

Id s 29
Removal of
officers and
subordinates

28. The board of commissioners of the State Fishery Force, shall
have the power to remove any officer of said force, for neglect of
duty or incompetency; and any officer commanding in said force,
shall have the power to remove any subordinate under his command,
and appoint a person to fill the vacancy whenever the interest of
said service may in his judgment require him to do so.

Id s 30
Powers of com-
missioners to
repair vessels

29. The said board of commissioners shall have power to keep
the steamer and said vessels in good order; and the treasurer of the
State, upon requisition of said commissioners, and the warrant of the