988                                 Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 348

''Commission" means "Secretary of Natural Resources''
"Commission of Chesapeake Bay Affairs" means "Secretary of

Natural Resources"
"Commission of Game and Inland Fish" means "Secretary of

Natural Resources"

"Commission of Tidewater Fisheries" means "Secretary of Nat-
ural Resources"

"Director" means "Secretary of Natural Resources"
"Department" or "department" means "Department of Natural

Resources"
"Department of Chesapeake Bay Affairs" means "Department of

Natural Resources"
"Department of Game and Inland Fish" means "Department of

Natural Resources"
"Department of Tidewater Fisheries" means "Department of

Natural Resources"

3.

It is hereby declared to be the intent of this article to [achieve,
so far as practicable, uniformity of regulations, requirements, pro-
cedures and methods with respect to the numbering, operation, and
equipment for the safety of life and property of all vessels subject
to this article and which may be within the jurisdiction of either
the Department of Tidewater Fisheries or the Department of Game
and Inland Fish; that the highest degree of cooperation shall exist
between these two agencies; and that, to the fullest extent prac-
ticable, these agencies shall] foster the development, use and enjoy-
ment of all the waters of Maryland. It is further declared to be the
intent of this article that there shall be the fullest possible coopera-
tion with neighboring states and the federal government in con-
nection with assistance and rescue operations and in the enforce-
ment of laws and regulations relating to recreational boating safety.

4.

[(a) For the purposes of orderly administration, especially in
official contacts with other states and the federal government, all
reports and correspondence involving joint effort or responsibility
shall emanate from the Department of Tidewater Fisheries, but
be based upon such material as the Department has obtained from
the Department of Game and Inland Fish as to matters which are
within the jurisdiction of the latter Department.]

[(b)] The Department [of Tidewater Fisheries and the Depart-
ment of Game and Inland Fish] shall, [jointly, and] to the fullest
extent practicable:

[(1)] (a) Make and develop plans, within the limits of available
income, for the improvement and promotion of all the waters of
Maryland for recreational purposes;

[(2)] (b) Promote the safety of life and property through an
educational program directed to boat owners, boat operators and
others, as to the inherent hazards of the water, precautions to be
observed, and emergency action;

[(3)] (c) Promulgate regulations for the numbering of vessels
for identification, the reporting of boating accidents, and governing
the safety equipment except those required to be inspected by the
federal government, and governing the operation of all vessels;