2018 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 689

Game and Inland Fish Commission to make regulations con-
cerning the open season for squirrels in Garrett County.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 5 of Article 99 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Birds, Game and Inland
Water Pish", subtitle "Commission", said section having been
amended by Chapter 200 of the Acts of 1949, be and it is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

5. (Powers. ) (a) Having a due regard for the distribution,
abundance, economic value and breeding habits of wild birds,
wild animals, and fish, in inland waters, the Commission is
hereby vested with the necessary power and authority to deter-
mine when, to what extent, if at all, and by what means it is
desirable to enlarge, extend, restrict or prohibit in any degree
the provisions of law obtaining in this State for the hunting,
taking, capture, killing, possession, sale, purchase, shipment,
transportation, carriage or export of any wild bird, wild ani-
mal, or fish from inland waters, and may adopt regulations for
such purpose. Provided, however, that no such regulation
shall be adopted which would have the effect of opening the
squirrel season in Garrett County prior to October 10 in any
year.

(b) Upon written petition fifty residents of this State, at
least 25 of whom shall hold valid Hunter's License or Angler's
License and at least 25 of whom shall be bona fide farmers
actually residing on a farm may propose regulations to the
Commission for adoption. The full text of any regulations so
proposed shall be published ten days before the same may be
acted upon and shall name the time and place that the matters
mentioned therein will be taken up, at which time any inter-
ested citizen may be heard. Such publications shall be made in
a newspaper published in this State. If the Commission is
satisfied that the proposed regulation, or any part thereof is
advisable, such regulation, or any part thereof, may be adopted
in the manner directed for proposing the same and shall name
the date when it is to become effective. The Commission shall
have full power and authority in case of fire hazard or similar
emergency to adopt and publish in a newspaper in this State,
regulations in connection therewith, which said regulations or
regulation shall become effective immediately upon publica-
tion.

(c) It shall be a misdemeanor to violate such regulation
adopted by the Commission or any part thereof, and any per-
son convicted of such violation shall be fined not less than Ten
Dollars ($10. 00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50. 00) and
may be sentenced to thirty (30) days in jail, either, or both,