4SO State Papers and Addresses

that this particular legislation is regarded as a model for the solution of similar
fishery problems in other states as well as by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.

The acute shortage of crabs in Maryland waters this year makes us very
definitely aware, however, that we are far removed from an answer to the
question as to how we are to restore our supply of this important seafood to
something approaching its former abundance. This question of the depletion
of our crab supply, however, serves to illustrate the difficulties of effective
conservation practices with respect to our Chesapeake Bay resources. The fact
to which I refer is the joint ownership of the Chesapeake Bay with our neigh-
boring State of Virginia.

Our crab population is shared jointly with Virginia and is migratory
between the waters of the two states so that only by effective cooperative action
with Virginia can this and other fishery problems in the Chesapeake be
managed in such a manner as to maintain the supply on a high-producing level.

The question of developing a program for cooperative action between
Maryland and Virginia with respect to the Chesapeake Bay would seem to be
one of the important problems to be considered by this Board and one to which
it may well turn its prompt attention. '

The Department of Tidewater Fisheries, under the very able administra-
tion of Chairman Edwin Warfield, has laid a solid foundation in the approach
to the solution of the many admittedly grave problems facing his Commission.
I believe it would be voicing the sentiment of all those interested in conserving
our seafood resources to say that our fisheries are in as capable hands as
could be found today.

We can view with satisfaction the progress which has been made in build-
ing up the supply of upland game and fresh water fish under the able manage-
ment of the Game and Inland Fish Commission. The activities of this
Commission both in securing better observance of protective laws as well as
in propagating game and fresh water fish are most encouraging in the results
which have been obtained. However, the Board of Natural Resources will be
able to offer useful suggestions particularly with respect to the coordination of
its efforts with the Commission of State Forests and Parks and with the
Department of Tidewater Fisheries.

The problems confronting the newly created Department of State Forests
and Parks are many and varied. Among its major responsibilities are the
protection of the State's two and one quarter million acres of woodland from
forest fires, for which a State-wide system of 36 fire towers, 650 Forest Wardens
and guards are employed during the spring and fall seasons. It also has the
administration and maintenance of nine State forests, totaling 110, 000 acres,
in four different sections of the State for timber production, watershed pro-
tection, wildlife and recreation. The Department has the administration and
maintenance of six State parks totaling 4, 000 acres for recreation and preser-
vation of scenic value, and of two State forest nurseries for the growing and
distribution of seedlings and transplants for forests, windbreak and roadside
planting. Under the roadside tree law the Forestry Department is responsible