ROBERT M. McLANB, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

65

flow of salt waters, for the breeding and cultivation of

oysters in any manner deemed proper and not conflict-

ing with the laws of this state; and whereas the Isle

of Wight and Assawoman bays aforesaid have, from

Preamble.

the closing of inlets south of them, been for many

years past unhealthy fresh water; and whereas the

lands bordering on said bays and tributaries have

greatly depreciated in value from that cause; there-

fore —

SEC. 8. Be it enacted, That, in consideration of the

cutting and making the inlet aforesaid, and the great

advantages rendered to the adjacent land thereby, and

Advantages

the increased value to the State of Maryland and

rendered.

Worcester county, and to the citizens thereof, by the

salting of the waters of the Isle of Wight and Assa-

woman bays by a regular ebb and flow of tide through

the inlet aforesaid, the State of Maryland does hereby

convey, in fee, unto the said Isle of Wight Inlet and

Oyster Planting Company, one-half of the bed of the

said Isle of Wight and Assawoman bays, on the east-

ward side of a Jine beginning at Ocean City bridge,

thence running northerly to the dividing line between

the State of Maryland and the State of Delaware, so

Divide into
two equal parts

as to divide the said bays into two equal portions, ex-

cepting the rights of the owners of lands bordering

on the eastern side of said bays, already acquired or

hereafter to be acquired.

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

shall be shown to the satisfaction of the register of

the land office that the said Isle of Wight Inlet and

Oyster Planting Company have constructed the inlet

Register to

issue patent.

connecting the bays aforesaid and the Atlantic ocean,

so as to secure the ebb and flow of said water through

the said inlet, as provided in the provisions of this

act, it shall be his duty, and he is hereby directed, to

issue a patent to the company for one-half of the bed

of the 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

Construction

the right to plant, cultivate and produce oysters and

of proviso.

other shell fish, and nothing hereby conveyed shall be

construed to interfere with the right of fishing in said

bay or on the waters conveying the said lands.

SEC. 10. And be it enacted, That as soon as the

provisions of the previous section of this act have

been carried out, all that portion of the bays aforesaid