J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                            563

(d) The Department is authorized to operate, sell, buy, lease,
exchange, rent, or repair such vehicles, vessels, boats, nets and other
equipment as may be necessary for its work, and to provide such
arms, ammunition, and equipment as may be required for vehicles,
vessels, boats owned by it or owned by the State of Maryland and
operated by it, subject to the provisions of Article 15A of this Code,
title "Budget and Procurement".

9. (a) The Commission shall appoint, with the approval of the
Governor, a competent person as Director of the Department of Tide-
water Fisheries, who shall be the administrative head of the Depart-
ment and who shall personally direct its operations and activities.
The Director shall devote his full time to the work of the Depart-
ment and shall receive such salary as may be provided in the budget.
The Director shall not hold office under or be subject to the provi-
sions of Article 64A of this Code, title "Merit System", but he shall
hold office at the pleasure of the Commission. The Director shall
from time to time at the request of the Governor or as may be neces-
sary, report to the Governor on the functions and operations of the
Department. Wherever reference is made in this article or elsewhere
in the laws of this State to the Chairman of the Commission on Tide-
water Fisheries, it shall hereafter mean the Director of the Depart-
ment of Tidewater Fisheries.

(b)   The Director may appoint a secretary, Commander of the
Fishery Force, hydrographic engineer, auditor, chief clerk, chief
inspector and such other deputy commanders, clerks, inspectors and
employees as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Depart-
ment, in such numbers as may be provided in the budget. All appoint-
ments shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Article 64A of
this Code, title "Merit System". Insofar as the provisions of said
Article 64A provide for disciplinary or dismissal proceedings against
employees to be brought by the appointing authority, the Director
shall be the appointing authority. The employees shall be under the
supervision and control of the Director and shall perform such duties
as he may prescribe, with the approval of the Commission. Em-
ployees of the Commission of Tidewater Fisheries having a merit
system status on June 1, 1959, shall be retained in their respective
positions with the Department, except that the Director may abolish
any position which he considers unnecessary and may change the
duties of any position with restriction by the provisions of said
Article 64A of the Code or any other law. The Department may re-
quire any employee who handles funds to furnish bond in such
amount as the Director may determine.

(c)  The Commander of the Fishery Force, deputy commanders,
inspectors and other employees who may be assigned to law enforce-
ment duties shall have all of the powers conferred upon police officers
or constables of this State, and such powers may be exercised any-
where within the territorial limits of this State.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any provision of this
Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held
invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or any
other application of this Act which can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this
Act are hereby declared to be severable.