J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                        259

fish and other natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay and other
tidal waters of the State. The Director shall devote his full time to
the work of the Department and shall receive such salary as may
be provided in the annual State budget. The PRESENT Director
WHO IS HOLDING OFFICE AT THE TIME OF THE EFFEC-
TIVE DATE OF THIS ACT shall hold office under and subject to
the provisions of Article 64A of this Code, title "Merit System."
AFTER THE DEPARTURE FROM OFFICE OF THE EXISTING
DIRECTOR, ANY SUBSEQUENT DIRECTOR APPOINTED
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL HOLD
OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR. The Director
shall from time to time at the request of the Governor or as may be
necessary, report to the Governor on the functions and operations of
the Department. Wherever reference is made in this or any other
section of this Code to the chairman of the Commission of Tidewater
Fisheries, it shall hereafter mean the Director of the Department.

(b)  As the administrative head of the Department, the Director
shall be responsible for the exercise of all the powers and duties con-
ferred upon the Department by the provisions of this article.

(c)  The Director shall appoint the staff of the Department sub-
ject to the provisions of the Merit System. The staff of the Depart-
ment shall consist of such employees as may be necessary to carry
out the duties of the Department, in such numbers and at the salaries
provided in the annual State budget. Insofar as the provisions of the
Merit System provide for disciplinary or dismissal proceedings
against employees to be brought by the appointing authority, the
Director shall be the appointing authority. All employees shall be
under the supervision and control of the Director and shall perform
such duties as he may prescribe. Employees of the Department of

Tidewater Fisheries having a Merit System status on June 1, 1964,

shall be retained in their respective positions with the Department
of Chesapeake Bay Affairs, except that the Director may abolish any

position which he considers unnecessary and may change the duties

of any position notwithstanding any limitations imposed by the
Merit System or any other applicable law. The Director may require
SUCH DUTIES AS HE MAY PRESCRIBE. THE DIRECTOR
AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TIDEWATER
FISHERIES WHO, AS OF JUNE 1, 1964, HAVE HELD SUCH
EMPLOYMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE MERIT
SYSTEM LAW, ARTICLE 64A OF THIS CODE, FOR A PERIOD
OF NOT LESS THAN SIX MONTHS PRIOR THERETO SHALL
BE RETAINED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHESAPEAKE BAY AFFAIRS. THE DI-
RECTOR MAY REQUIRE any employee who receives monies to
furnish bond in such amount as the Director may determine.

(d)  The Director shall serve as a departmental member of the
Board of Natural Resources.

(e)  The Director shall exercise all other powers and duties neces-
sary and proper in carrying out the responsibilities vested in him
under this article.

11. The employees of the Department assigned to law enforcement
duties shall have and may exercise the powers of police officers or
constables of this State, and such powers may be exercised anywhere
within the territorial limits of this State.