240                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 74

to the State Game Protection Fund, the balance to be expended as
heretofore in this section provided. Any fines for violation of the
provisions of this section shall be paid to the [Commission of Tide-
water Fisheries] Department of Game and Inland Fish [to be
credited to the Conservation Fund].

Provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall
apply to any dams which have been constructed, or may now be
under construction by any sanitary district created by an act of
the General Assembly of Maryland to provide a public water supply.

294.

The [Commission] Department of Tidewater Fisheries CHESA-
PEAKE BAY AFFAIRS is hereby authorized to make rules and
regulations governing the taking of sturgeon from the waters of
this State or the possession and sale within the State, of sturgeon
taken from the waters of this State. The rules and regulations so
promulgated shall have the force of law and any person who shall
violate any of the said rules and regulations shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined for each violation
the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).

No such rules and regulations of the [Commission] Department
shall become effective until [said Commission] it has held public
hearings on same, and such public hearings shall be advertised as to
time, place and purpose in one newspaper of general daily circulation
in the State, and at least two newspapers circulated in the tide-
water counties for two successive weeks in advance of said hearings.
After such hearings and upon adoption of such rules and regulations,
[a certified copy of same, together with reasons for adopting same,
shall be transmitted to the Board of Natural Resources at its next
regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. The
Board of Natural Resources shall vote to approve or disapprove
such rules and regulations and if a majority of the members present
vote to disapprove such rules and regulations, the same shall be null
and void. But if a majority of the members present at the meeting of
the Board of Natural Resources approve such rules and regulations,]
the same shall be published for one week in the newspapers bearing
notice of the hearing and shall thereafter have all the force and
effect of law. No rule or regulation shall be adopted, nor be effective,
hereunder unless or until the State of Virginia has in effect, or
simultaneously puts into effect, a rule, regulation, or law with similar
provisions as the rule or regulation made by the [Commission]
Department.

314.

(b) It shall be unlawful to catch black bass in any manner in the
tidal waters of the State of Maryland except that black bass may be
caught with rod, hook and line using natural or artificial baits at
any time during the year, subject to the creel limit imposed by
Section 316 of this article. Whenever any black bass are caught in
nets, seines or other devices legally engaged in other fishing those
fishing such nets shall immediately return such fish to the waters
uninjured, except it shall be lawful for anyone fishing said nets to
retain not to exceed one day's legal creel limit of five (5) black bass
for his own private use during said open season. It shall also be
unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell or offer to sell,