J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                          1489

Seed for private growers is another matter again. We have at
present about 12,000 acres under private cultivation in the State.
These growers also must have seed, if their grounds are to be main-
tained in production. For the last twenty years certain grounds in
St. Mary's River have been tonged and the seed sold to private
growers. The State collects a tax to defray the cost of reshelling
the beds, and the tonger is given work in late April when he would
otherwise have difficulty in obtaining employment. Growers from
all over the State—Anne Arundel, Talbot, Calvert, Wicomico, Somer-
set, Charles and St. Mary's Counties particularly—buy the seed to
plant on their grounds. Consequently production from planted
grounds in recent years has helped materially to meet the demand
for Maryland oysters without injuring the public rock oystermen.
This increased production has improved the economy of many of
our tidewater communities.

In the last few years, the St. Mary's River seed production has
dropped off drastically. A group of small planters in Smith's Creek
in St. Mary's County haying five to thirty acres of ground have
started growing seed. Their production has also been sold to planters
around the State. This has resulted in further employment to local
tongers and a badly needed source of seed to planters throughout
the State.

Under Senate Bill No. 512 both of these sources of seed would be
cut off from private planters all over Maryland. Employment in
April for tongers in St. Mary's County would be eliminated and a
part of Maryland's present limited oyster production would be further
reduced.

At the present time the Commission of Tidewater Fisheries has
the discretionary power to open or close the St. Mary's River to the
taking of seed and to signify how and where it may be used. There
seems to be no valid reason for limiting the power of the Commission
and at the same time injuring the planters in St. Mary's County who
are producing seed, and those who are buying it to grow oysters. To
prevent this, I have no other recourse than to veto this legislation
to protect the interest of the State at large. In doing so I am con-
vinced that I am acting in the best interest of the State's seafood
industry.

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

JMT/db                                                                          Governor.

Senate Bill No. 544—State Auditor and Deputy

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 29 (a) of
Article 19 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title
"Comptroller", sub-title "State Auditor", amending the provisions
of the law concerning the appointment of a Deputy State Auditor.

May 5, 1959.

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

Dear Mr. President:

Senate Bill No. 544 has been vetoed by me today. Article II, Sec-