1178 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 471

occupier of said fishery, and in addition thereto, the cost of
prosecution; the amount of fine so imposed shall be paid to
the owner or occupier of the fishery, and the vessel, float or
boat shall be held as security for the payment of the fine.

OBSTRUCTION TO FISHERY.

Sec. 20. It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully or
maliciously put any stake, log, stone, ballast or other obstruc-
tion in the berth or haul of any fishery, subject to the penalties
hereinafter provided.

RIPARIAN RIGHTS.

Sec. 22. The owner of any land bordering on any tidal
waters of the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, except the
waters of the Great Choptank River, lying in the State of
Maryland, or any one who is a tenant, renter or lessee of such
owner, shall by virtue of such ownership or occupancy be first
entitled to make a choice of the set or position to place nets or
establish a haul seine fishery in front of the property of which
he or she is the owner, tenant, renter or lessee of the ripa-
rian rights therein, for the purpose of catching fish for com-
mercial use; provided that if such owner, tenant, renter or les-
see of said riparian rights do not avail themselves of the priv-
ilege of locating the position where they desire to set their nets
or haul seine each year within twenty days after receiving no-
tice hereinafter provided from any other person who may de-
sire to locate their nets or fishery in front of said riparian
owner's property, then it shall be lawful for such person to
locate or place their net or haul their seine in front of said
property; except that the notice to the owner or occupier shall
not apply to the waters of Baltimore, Cecil, Talbot, Caroline,
Dorchester, Prince George's, St. Mary's and Charles Coun-
ties, where the permission of the shore owner shall always
be necessary, nor shall anything herein contained be construed
to grant any rights to fishermen by reason of such notice to
fish upon any of the waters, nearer than 500 yards opposite
any shore used as a pleasure resort so as to interfere with
bathing or boating on such shore, without permission of the
shore owner. The notice provided for above shall be mailed
to the owner of the shore, or to the tenant, renter or lessee
of such shore property. If the name and address are unknown,
then such notice shall be posted for twenty days on a board
fastened to a stake driven in the water directly in front of the