J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                            495

710.

(a) The Department of Tidewater Fisheries, notwithstanding any
other provisions of this article, shall not, for a period of five years
beginning on June 1, 1957, lease any of the submerged areas of this
State in Dorchester County for the purpose of the cultivation of
oysters. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or apply
to any existing valid lease made prior to and effective on June 1,
1957, nor to the renewal of any such lease.

(b) From and after June 1, 1961, the Department shall not lease
any of the submerged areas of this State in Dorchester County for
the purpose of the cultivation of oysters. This prohibition shall pre-
vail notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 708 of this
Article. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect or
apply to any existing valid lease made prior to and effective on June 1,
1957. , AND FURTHER PROVIDED THAT NOTHING HEREIN
SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PREVENT ANY SUCH LESSEE
FROM RENEWING, ASSIGNING, DEVISING BY WILL OR PRO-
HIBIT THE DESCENDENTS OF ANY LESSEE, HIS HEIRS OR
NEXT OF KIN, FROM INHERITING SUCH RIGHTS THERE-
UNDER BY THE OPERATION OF THE LAWS OF DESCENT
AND DISTRIBUTION. AND BE IT FURTHER PROVIDED THAT
IN CASES WHERE AN EXISTING LEASE DOES NOT PROVIDE
FOR RENEWAL THEREUNDER UPON ITS TERMINATION
THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO GRANT
RENEWAL THEREOF TO THE SAME AREA UNLESS GOOD
CAUSE TO THE CONTRARY BE SHOWN, HOWEVER, NOTH-
ING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO PERMIT ANY
PERSON FROM LEASING MORE AREA OR ACREAGE THAN
NOW AUTHORIZED BY LAW REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD
OR MANNER SUCH LEASE OR LEASES OR THE RIGHTS
THEREUNDER BE OBTAINED.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1961.                                                             

Approved April 24, 1961.

CHAPTER 366
(Senate Bill 166)

AN ACT to add a new Section 9 (50) to Article 81 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1957 Edition and 1960 Supplement), title
"Revenue and Taxes", sub-title "What Shall Be Taxed and Where",
to follow immediately after Section 9 (49) thereof, providing a tax
exemption for Academy of the Arts, Easton, Maryland, Inc.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 9 (50) be and it is hereby added to Article 81 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition and 1960 Supple-
ment), title "Revenue and Taxes", sub-title "What Shall Be Taxed
and Where", to follow immediately after Section 9 (49) thereof, and
to read as follows: