HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1333

provided, however, that an individual may acquire a tract not
exceeding one hundred acres of land beneath the waters of
Tangier Sound. Leases of such lands shall be made only to
residents of Maryland. The term of such leases shall be
twenty years, and the annual rent therefor shall be such sum
as in the judgment of the Conservation Department is a proper
one and commensurate with the value of the land so leased;
provided, however, that no land shall be leased at a less price
than one dollar ($1. 00) per acre. If any part of the rent
reserved under such leases shall remain unpaid for more than
sixty days after the same becomes due, such lease or leases
may at the option of said Department be declared void, and
in that event the land shall revert to the State and may be
leased again in accordance with the provisions of this section.
The said Department may, at the request of any lessee, if it
shall appear equitable so to do, upon cause shown in writing1,
cancel his lease as to the whole or a part of the lands leased.
At the expiration of any lease now in force, there shall be
allowed an additional period of 3 years to all such lessees
and at the expiration of the said 3-year additional period,
the lessee upon written request to said Conservation Depart-
ment shall be granted a renewal of said lease, upon payment
of re-survey and recording fees of five dollars ($ 5. 00) and two
dollars and fifty cents ($2. 50), respectively. If no such written
request is made, by former lessee, the leased bottoms shall
revert to public use and anyone desiring to lease the same shall
make application in the manner now prescribed by law. Pro-
tests against the leasing of such bottoms after the 3-year addi-
tional period shall be filed in the regular way, as now provided
by law.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of
laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act be and they
are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1st, 1941.

Approved May 6, 1941.

CHAPTER 766.
(House Bill 314)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
109 of Article 39 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939
Edition), title "Fish and Fisheries", sub-title "Crabs", to