ART. 16. ] LAND office.

183

32, If a certificate of survey shall be returned within the time
herein prescribed, and shall be found to be correct, and the whole
composition or purchase-money has been paid, and such certificate
has laid six months in the Land Office and no caveat has been en-
tered thereto, the person having such certificate returned, his as-
signee, devisee or heirs, shall be entitled to a patent thereon; or if
the certificate is released by adjudication or by the operation of law
from the effect of the caveat, a patent shall issue thereon as if no
caveat had been filed.

Id s 31
1782, c 38, s 2
When patent to
issue
9 Md 74, 21 Md
119, 23 Md 432,
27 Md 149, 34
Md 428.

33. Every caveat shall be heard and determined by the com-
missioner of the Land Office within twelve months from the entering
of the same, unless he shall under special circumstances give further
time to the parties.

Id s 32
1797, c 114, s 10
When caveat to
be determined
21 Md 135, 34
Md 428, 38 Md
81

34. The commissioner of the Land Office shall have full power at
his discretion to award costs to the party prevailing on the decision
of any caveat.

Id s 33
1797, c 114, s 8
Commissioner
to award costs.

3 5. All patents shall be signed by the governor and have affixed
thereto the great seal of the State, and the governor, on the presen-
tation to him of a patent by the commissioner of the Land Office,
certified by the said commissioner as proper to be issued, shall be
authorized to sign such patent, and to cause the great seal to be
affixed thereto.

Id s 34
18S3, c 21.
Patents how
signed and
sealed

36. The commissioner of the Land Office may prescribe rules to
regulate the conduct of surveyors in making surveys and returning
certificates and plats, and he shall in all things regulate his pro-
ceedings by the usages and principles which have heretofore been
established by the practice of the Land Office not inconsistent with
this article or the principles of equity.

Id s 35
Commissioner
to prescribe
rules for sur-
veyors

37. Any person holding lands and being in actual possession
thereof in this State under a warrant and survey, or under a patent
granted by the government of Pennsylvania before the divisional
line between the two States was fixed, shall be entitled to receive a
patent for such land from the proper authorities of this State.

RIPARIAN RIGHTS.

Id s 36
1785, c 66, s 7
Lands on the
Pennsylvania
line may be
patented, whore

38. The proprietor of land bounding on any of the navigable
waters of this State, is hereby declared to be entitled to all accre-
tions to said land by the recession of said water, whether hereto-
fore or hereafter formed or made by natural causes or otherwise, in
like manner and to like extent as such right may or can be claimed
by the proprietor of land bounding on water not navigable.

1862, c 129
Owners of land
on navigable
waters entitled
to accretions,
etc
22 Md 530, 23
Md 4S2, 41 Md
523, 42 Md 348,
43 Md 23

3. 9. The proprietor of land bounding on any of the navigable
waters of this State, is hereby declared to be entitled to the exclu-
sive right of making improvements into the waters in front of his
said land, such improvements, and other accretions as above pro-
vided for, shall pass to the successive owners of the land to which
they are attached, as incident to their respective estates. But no

1862, c 129
Owners have
exclusive right
to make
improvements
Into waters
42 Md 348