912 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 476

CHAPTER 476.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact with amendments Sections 72,
73, 74 and Y5 of Article 72 of the Code of Public General
Laws of Maryland, title "Oysters, " sub-title "Potomac, " said
sections relating to taking of marketable oysters with ordi-
nary patent tongs from certain places in the Potomac River
and changing the season for taking and the size of market-
able oysters to conform with similar legislation enacted by
the State of Virginia.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Sections 72, 73, 74 and 75 of Article 72 of the Code
of Public General Laws of Maryland, title "Oysters, " sub-title
"Potomac, " relating to taking of marketable oysters with or-
dinary patent tongs from certain places in the Potomac River,
and changing the season for taking and the size of marketable
oysters to conform with, similar legislation enacted by the State
of Virginia, be and are hereby repealed and re-enacted with
amendments, to read as follows:

72. It shall not be lawful for any citizen of Maryland or of
Virginia to take or catch oysters with, a scoop, scrape, dredge,
or any such, instrument in the waters of the Potomac River
between the fifteenth day of March and the first day of Novem-
ber of each year; it shall not be lawful for any citizen of either
state to take oysters with tongs from the waters of the Potomac
River between the fifteenth day of April and the fifteenth
day of September of each year, except as hereinafter
provided in 'Section 74; it shall not be lawful for any person
to have in possession any oysters taken from the waters of the
Potomac River between the twentieth day of April and
the fifteenth day of September of each year. Every person
found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section
shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hun-
dred dollars for each offense, and the vessel, together with its
equipment and cargo, used in violating any such provisions,
shall be forfeited to the State.

73. All oysters taken from any natural rocks, beds or shoals
within the Potomac River shall be culled on their natural rocks,
beds or shoals as taken, and oysters whose shells measure less
than three inches in length, measuring from hinge to mouth,
whether attached to a marketable oyster or not, and all shells
shall be included in said culling and placed on said rocks,
beds or shoals; provided, that oysters once passed from
the culler less than the prohibited size, and all shells shall be con-