Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                    817

Whereas, it has come to the attention of the General Assembly of
Maryland that in litigation presently pending in the United States
District Court for the District of Maryland the owners of lands lying
in the State of Virginia and bordering on the Potomac River are
asserting certain rights to the bed of said river in the State of Mary-
land in reliance upon Section 572 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1951 Edition); and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Maryland desires to re affirm
its intention that only the owners of riparian lands in the State of
Maryland shall have the rights and privileges granted by said Section
572 of Article 27; now therefore

WHEREAS, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND
DESIRES THAT ONLY OWNERS OF RIPARIAN LANDS
WHICH ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES HERETOFORE
GRANTED BY SAID SECTION 572 OF ARTICLE 27 OF THE
ANNOTATED CODE; NOW, THEREFORE

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 572 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1951 Edition) be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

572. It shall not be lawful for any person to dig, dredge, take and
carry away any sand, gravel or other material from the bed of any
of the navigable rivers, creeks or branches of this State, under a
penalty of a fine not exceeding Three Hundred Dollars ($300), and
confiscation of the boat, vessel, dredge and implements used in
digging, dredging and carrying away such sand, gravel, or other
material, and imprisonment in the county jail for a period not
exceeding six months, in the discretion of the court; one-half of said
fine and one-half of the proceeds of the sale of such confiscated boat,
vessel, dredge and implements, to be paid by the sheriff to the in-
former, and the other half to the commissioners of public schools for
the counties, provided, however, that it shall be lawful for any
riparian owner of lands in this State bordering on said rivers, creeks
or branches, or for any person or corporation with whom such owner
shall have a contract in writing for the purpose, or for the agents,
servants or employees of such person or corporation to dig, dredge,
take and carry away sand, gravel, or other material from the bed of

aid river opposite said lands from highwater mark on the shore

bordering on said lands to the outer line of the channel nearest said
shore, subject to the laws of the United States relating to navigation;
and provided further, that none of the provisions of this section shall
be deemed to interfere in any manner with the provisions of any law
of the State relating to the taking and catching of fish and oysters.
RIPARIAN OWNER OF LANDS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND
BORDERING ON SAID RIVERS, CREEKS OR BRANCHES, OR
FOR ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION WITH WHOM SUCH
OWNER SHALL HAVE A CONTRACT IN WRITING FOR THE
PURPOSE, OR FOR THE AGENTS, SERVANTS OR EM-
PLOYEES OF SUCH PERSON OR CORPORATION, TO DIG,
DREDGE, TAKE AND CARRY AWAY SAND, GRAVEL OR
OTHER MATERIALS FROM THE BED OF SAID RIVER OPPO-
SITE SAID LANDS FROM HIGH WATER MARK ON THE