Marvin Mandel, Governor                         999

Inland Fish shall be and remain as employees of the Department
under the merit system and no employee shall have his or her status
under the merit system altered or changed.

(b)  The Director shall have charge of, direct, supervise, and con-
trol all employees of the Department. He shall exercise all powers
and duties conferred by law upon the Department.

(c)  The Director shall have authority to have printed the annual
report of the Department, and such bulletins, literature, posters,
licenses and other printing as may be necessary to the work of the
Department and Commission.

(d)   It shall be the duty of the Director and wildlife officers to
prosecute all persons and corporations having in their possession
any game or inland fish contrary to the laws of this State. It shall
be their duty to see that the game and fish laws are enforced, and
that the provisions of Sections 21, 154, and 579 of Article 27 of this
Code, as amended from time to time, be enforced.]

129.

(a) The clerks of the circuit courts of the counties and the clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City shall on the first
day of July and on the first day of each and every month thereafter,
transmit to the Department [of Game and Inland Fish of this State]
all moneys received by them for licenses issued under the provisions
of this subtitle, and said moneys shall be accounted for by the said
Department to the Treasurer. The amounts so received by the
Treasurer shall be placed to the credit of a separate fund to be
known as "the State Game Protection Fund," and shall be paid by
the Treasurer on warrant of the Comptroller upon requisition of
the Department [of Game and Inland Fish]. The moneys in said
fund shall be used solely for [salaries and the expenses of the De-
partment of Game and Inland Fish and Commission, the Director
and his subordinates, and for] scientific investigation and the pro-
tection and [propagation] management of birds, wild fowl, inland
fish, and game. [The Game and Inland Fish Commission shall
require the Director to file an annual account with it showing the
entire receipts and disbursements of himself and all wildlife officers
and exhibit vouchers therefor and also shall require the Director
to be covered by a surety bond in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 46 through 50 of Article 78A of the Annotated Code of
Maryland.]

343.

Forests, streams, valleys, wetlands, parks, scenic, historic and
recreation areas of the State of Maryland are basic assets. Their
proper use, development and preservation are necessary to protect
and promote the health, safety, economic and general welfare of the
people of the State. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State to encourage the economic development and use of its natural
resources for the improvement of local economy, preservation of the
natural beauty and promotion of the recreational and leisure interest
throughout the State.

The Department of [Forests and Parks is hereby created, as a
part of the Department of] Natural Resources [, to] shall promote,