LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

CHAPTER 431.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact with amendments, section
two hundred and fifty-eight of Article ten of the Public
Local Laws of Maryland, title "Dorchester County," sub-
title "Oysters."
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of

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Maryland, That section two hundred and fifty-eight of Article
ten of the Public Local Laws of Maryland, title "Dorchester
county," sub-title "Oysters," be and the same is hereby repealed
and re-enacted with amendments, so as to read as follows :
258. Any person who shall use any boat, canoe or vessel to
catch oysters with scrapes or dredges in any of the waters of
said county not authorized by section two hundred and fifty-

Repeal.

three of this article, as amended by chapter 456 of the Acts of
eighteen hundred and ninety-four, or refuses to exhibit the
custom house or dredging license whenever called for by any
officer of the State of Maryland, or for catching oysters before
the season commences or after it has closed, or for any other
violation of sections 253 to 262 inclusive, the penalty for
which is not otherwise provided for, shall upon conviction
thereof before a justice of the peace or judge of the Circuit
Court for Dorchester county, upon indictment by the grand
jury, be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one
hundred dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the House of Cor-
rection for not less than three months nor more than six
months, or shall be both fined and imprisoned in the discretion
of the court or justice trying the same ; and in the event of a
fine being imposed, the party shall stand committed until the
fine and costs are paid ; provided, that before a justice of the
peace shall proceed to try any case under said sections, he
shall require the person charged with such violation to make
his election either to be tried before said justice or before the
Circuit Court for Dorchester county, and said election shall be
entered upon the record of the said justice ; if he elects to be
tried before the Circuit Court, he shall be required to give
bond with approved security to the State, in double the amount
of the fine named for said offense, for his appearance at the
first term of said court held in said county ; if any one or all
of such defendants shall elect to be tried before said justice of
the peace, the justice shall proceed to docket the case in usual
form, and hear and decide the same.
Approved April 9, 1898.

Unlawful to
catch
evsters.