1488                                      Vetoes

Senate Bill No. 512—St. Mary's County; Seed Oysters

AN ACT to add new Sections 707(1) and 711(d) SECTION 707 (L)
to Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition),
title "Natural Resources", sub-title "Oysters and Clams", to follow,
respectively, after Sections 707(k) and 711(c) IMMEDIATELY
AFTER SECTION 707 (K) thereof, directing the Department of
Tidewater Fisheries to close in rotation all natural oyster bars in

each of several specific areas in St. Mary's County and to deposit

thereon certain supplies of seed oysters; providing that certain

seed oysters taken from the waters of St. Mary's County shall not

be removed therefrom; imposing an inspection tax on oysters

taken from certain waters of St. Mary's County and relating

generally to the taking of seed oysters, the re-seeding of seed

oysters and the taking of oysters in St. Mary's County. PRO-

HIBITING REMOVAL OF SEED OYSTERS FROM THE
WATERS OF ST. MARY'S COUNTY FOR SALE OR FOR ANY
PRIVATE USE, PROVIDING FOR THE REDEPOSIT OF SEED
OYSTERS TAKEN FROM WATERS IN THE COUNTY, AND
PROVIDING THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.

April 29, 1959.

Honorable George W. Della
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

As a result of much study and many discussions with members of
my staff and others, I have arrived at the decision to veto Senate
Bill No. 512. Article II, Section 17 of the State Constitution requires
me to return all vetoed bills to the House of their origin. I am here-
with returning this particular bill to the Senate of Maryland and
am stating my objection to it and the reasons for the action that
I have taken herein.

One of the major goals of my administration is to so organize
the Department of Tidewater Fisheries that it can develop and carry
out an effective program to rehabilitate the oyster resources of the
Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries. With oyster production ap-
proaching an all time low, while general prosperity and demand for
the product is at its peak, this problem is one which concerns every
Marylander.

The State's program for shelling and seeding the public rocks is
properly financed. With sound management and supervision, there
is every reason to expect a decided trend upward in the next several
years. Since nature takes about three to four years to grow a mature
oyster, we cannot expect spectacular immediate results. Plans must be
made on a long term basis, so that our tongers, dredgers, packers,
growers, shuckers, and all others connected with the industry can look
forward to increasing prosperity.

The production of seed oysters for planting on the beds is the
fundamental basis for any program. This is true, whether we con-
sider the public bars or private grounds. The State must develop as
soon as possible seed beds to be used to reseed the depleted public
bars. Such a need can and will be met through the oyster rehabilita-
tion fund.