506

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

Penalty.

11. Any packer, commission man or boatman who shall
conspire or agree with any other person to evade any of the
provisions of this article, or who shall knowingly connive at
or participate in such violation, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and on conviction before any court or justice of
the peace having jurisdiction, shall be fined not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or impris-
onment in the house of correction for not less than six
months nor more than twelve months, in the discretion of the
justice or judge trying the same.

12. It shall be the duty of the general measurers and inspec-

Duty of
measurers
and inspec-
tors.

tors of oysters and officers of the police force, to supervise the
operation of this article, and diligently to aid in the enforce-
ment of its provisions. That any packer, commission man or
boatman who shall refuse to open his house or, boat where
oysters may be dumped or stored, for inspection by any officer
whose duty it shall be to so inspect the same, or who shall
conspire or agree with any other person to evade any of the
provisions of this act relating to the culling of oysters, or who
shall knowingly connive at or participate in such violation,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be subject to
the penalties prescribed in section 15 of this article.

13. Any general measurer or inspector of oysters in this

Penalty.

State, who shall knowingly permit any evasion or violation of
this article to take place without causing the arrest of the
offender, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
of the same, shall be dismissed from the service, and be fined
not less than fifty dollars nor more than three hundred dollars,
in the discretion of the court or justice of the peace.

14. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take

When unlaw-
ful to catch
oysters.

or catch oysters, or have oysters in his or their possession,
between the twenty-fifth day of April and the first day of
September, in each and every year; provided, that oysters
caught before the twenty fifth day of April may be disposed
of at any time before the thirtieth day of April; provided,
that this section shall not prevent transportation companies
from carrying oysters brought from other States; nor hotel
and restaurant keepers or private persons from purchasing
oysters outside of the State of Maryland; nor shall it be con-
strued to prevent any person from taking oysters for private
use, or transplanting or cultivating, not for sale, at any time
from his private beds within the State; persons violating the