788                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 324

not more than [two] five percent of the natural oyster bars of the
State, or of any county, shall be designated as seed areas, and pro-
vided further, that of the seed oysters produced in such areas an-
nually the first million bushels shall be planted on the natural oyster
bars of this State. Not to exceed fifty percent of the seed oysters
produced annually in such areas in excess of one million bushels
may be sold by the State of Maryland to citizens who hold valid leases
under the provisions of Section 708 of this article, at prices not less
than the prevailing price of seed oysters of similar quality in nearby
states and under such conditions of sale as may be prescribed by the
Department of Chesapeake Bay Affairs. The proceeds from such
sales shall be credited by the Comptroller to the Fisheries Re-
search and Development Fund. [Not less than fifty percent,
EXCEPT FROM JULY 1, 1969 TO JULY 1, 1970 NOT LESS
THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT, of the seed oysters re-
moved in any year from any seed area established under the
provisions of this subsection, and planted on the natural oyster bars
of the State shall be planted on the natural oyster bars of the county
in which that seed area is located.] The Department shall cause
to be published a notice of reservation of any such area or areas in
one newspaper of general circulation in the State and in one or more
newspapers of general circulation in the county or counties in whose
waters the area or areas are located, not less than thirty days prior
to the proposed date of closing, and shall schedule a public hearing
on the proposal not less than fifteen days before the proposed date of
closing; such hearing shall be held at the county seat of the county
in which the affected waters are located; if such waters are located
in more than one county then the hearing shall be held in that county
seat of the affected counties which is closest to the affected waters;
if the area affected is totally within State waters, then such hearing
shall be held in Annapolis.

[(j) In any tributary creek, river, or embayment in any county,
the area of natural oyster bars closed in any year under the provisions
of this section shall never exceed three percent of the acreage of
natural oyster bars in that tributary creek, river, or embayment;
and the total area of natural oyster bars closed or remaining closed
in any tributary creek, river, or embayment of any county under the
provisions of this section shall never at any time exceed six percent
of the total acreage of natural oyster bars within that tributary
creek, river, or embayment.]

[(k)] (j) The Department is authorized to close without the
holding of a public hearing and for a temporary period not to exceed
forty-five days any natural oyster bar [in Charles, St. Mary's, or
Calvert Counties] with the approval of the appropriate committee of
oystermen established under the provisions of subsection (g) of this