632                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 318

Whereas, Because of an error in Section 1 of Chapter 588 of 1970,
there is a doubt about whether Sections 296 and 297 of Article 66C
were properly repealed; and

Whereas, It is desirable that these sections be again repealed
in order that there be no doubt about the proper provisions of the
laws relating to the operation of nets and seines; now, therefore,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 296 and 297 of Article 66C of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title "Natural Resources,"
subtitle "Fish and Fisheries," subheading "Part 2. Tidal Waters,"
be and they are hereby repealed, to read as follows:

[296.

Any person who establishes to the satisfaction of the Commission
that he actually used a pound net, haul seine, gill net, or fyke or
hoop net more than 40 yards in length for the taking of fin fish for
commercial purposes, at any time during the calendar years 1940
and 1941, shall be entitled to file application with the Commission
of Tidewater Fisheries prior to December 1st, 1941, and the Com-
mission shall grant his application for a license to operate such,
but only such nets as he actually operated at any time during such
years.]

[297.

In addition to the licenses issued under the provisions of Section
296, the Commission shall issue additional licenses to applicants who
fished for commercial purposes with the type of nets described in
Section 296 prior to 1942 but who did not apply for a license prior
to December 1, 1941, because they were employed in government
service or an essential war industry; or if said applicant has had
such a license in the past and did not apply for renewal because of
some physical disability.

Immediately after June 1, 1947, the Commission shall advertise
in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation throughout
the State that applications will be accepted from such qualified
applicants.

Applicants, together with positive proof that the applicant oper-
ated commercial fishing nets in 1940 or 1941 and subsequently
entered government service or an essential war industry, must be
submitted prior to September 1, 1947. In no case shall a license be
issued unless the applicant can show that he will use the licensed
nets within a reasonable time after issuance of said license. The
applicant shall not be licensed to fish a greater number of nets than
he actually fished during the last year in which he engaged in taking
fish for commercial purposes. In no case shall the number of nets
licensed by any licensee exceed the average number of nets or the
average length of nets for which licenses were issued in 1942 in the
particular class for which a license is sought.]

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved April 29, 1971