FRANK BROWN, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

369

northern boundary line at one fourth the width of the water

way at that point from the center line. For the western

boundary commencing at a point on said southern line dis-

tant one -fourth of the width of the bay from the said center

line, thence northwardly following the general trend of the

shore, and at every point distant from aforesaid center line

one-fourth of the width of the water way until it intersects

the said northern boundary line at one-fourth width of the

water way at that point from the center line, and all of

aforesaid boundaries shall be so located in accordance with

the provisions of this act as to grant and convey in fee unto

the said Isle of Wight Inlet and Oyster Planting Company

one-halt of the beds of the said Isle of Wight Bay the said

Assawoman Bay and the said Synepuxent Bay excepting

and reserving to owners of land bordering on said bays ; as

well as to owners within the limits of said tracts, if any

there be, all rights acquired or that may hereafter be

acquired by the laws of this State ; and the County Sur-

veyor of Worcester County shall survey and locate said

tracts, with one commissioner to be appointed by the County

Commissioners of Worcester County.

SEC. 9. And be it enacted, That whenever it can or shall

Commis-

be shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of the

sioners of
land office.

Land Office that the Isle of Wight Inlet and Oyster Plant-

ing Company have constructed the inlet connecting the bays

aforesaid and the Atlantic Ocean, so as to secure the ebb

and flow of salt water through the said inlet, in sufficient

quantities to salt the water of the said bays for the planting,

cultivation and growth of oysters in said bays, as provided

by this act ; it shall be his duty, and he is hereby directed

to issue a patent of said company for one-half of the beds of

said bays as described in the previous section of this act,

for the cultivation and planting of oysters; provided said

patent shall convey no further title than the right to plant,

cultivate and produce oysters and other shell fish, but said

patent shall secure to the said company the light to the full,

complete and exclusive privilege and profits of planting,

cultivating and producing oysters and other shell fish, so

long as said company shall maintain, and keep said inlet

open, so as to salt the waters for the above named-purposes ;

provided, however, that the said land herein described shall

be forfeited by said company and revert to the State of

Maryland in case said inlet from any cause should be closed ;

provided the said company shall have two years to reopen

said inlet before forfeiture shall take effect by this act ; and

it is further specially provided that said waters covering

said ground shall at all times be free and open to navigation,

and the right of fishing and shooting. 24