EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 7

ment of the United States those vessels belonging to the Mary-
land State Fishery Force which are suitable for guarding the
waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries within the State
of Maryland^ and

WHEREAS, The said Commission has been assured that in
the absence of emergencies growing out of said war, the said
vessels will be permitted to remain in their respective districts
and perform their ordinary duties and that the cost of operat-
ing said vessels, including wages and supplies, and necessary
repairs will be borne by the Government of the United States.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the Conservation Commission of Maryland be
and it is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion,
to lease to the United States of America any or all of the ves-
sels of the Maryland State Fishery Force upon such terms
and for such period of time as the Commission may determine,
provided that the vessels so leased shall remain in the waters
of their respective districts, and shall perform their ordinary
duties as now prescribed by law, unless called out by the United
States Government to meet emergencies which may arise dur-
ing said war, and provided further, that the United States Gov-
ernment shall pay during the period of such lease the cost of
operating the vessels so leased, including wages and supplies,
and necessary repairs.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency law and necessary for the immedi-
ate preservation of the public safety, and being passed upon a
yea and nay vote, supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly,
the same shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved June 27th, 1917.