1096                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                             Ch. 486

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.

Approved May 21, 1973.

CHAPTER 487
(Senate Bill 1143)

AN ACT to add new Section [[60B to Article 27 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title "Crimes and Punishments,"
subtitle "Cruelty to Animals," to follow immediately after Section 60A]] 125A
to Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Supplement), title
"Natural Resources," subtitle "Birds. Game and Fish," subheading
"Department of Game, and Inland Fish," to follow immediately after 125
thereof, to prohibit the possession with intent to sell, the sale, or importation
into this State for commercial purposes of the dead bodies, parts or products of
any seal, excluding certain acts from coverage, and providing penalties for the
violation of this section.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section [[60B be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title "Crimes and
Punishments," subtitle "Cruelty to Animals," to follow immediately after Section
60A]] 125A be and it is hereby added to Article 66C of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1972 Supplement), title "Natural Resources." subtitle "Birds. Game
and Fish," subheading "Department of Game and Inland Fish," to follow
immediately after Section 125 thereof, to read as follows:

[[60B]] 125A.

(A)    IT IS UNLAWFUL TO IMPORT INTO THIS STATE FOR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO SELL, OR
TO SELL WITHIN THE STATE, THE DEAD BODY, OR ANY PART OR
PRODUCT THEREOF, OF ANY SEAL.

(B)  HOWEVER, THIS ACT DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE SALE OR THE
POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL OF ANY PART OR PRODUCT OF
ANY SEAL WHEN THE SELLER CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THE
PART OR PRODUCT WAS IMPORTED INTO THIS STATE BEFORE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT; NOR DOES IT PROHIBIT THE SALE
OF A PART OR PRODUCT OF A SEAL BY AN INDIVIDUAL NOT
NORMALLY ENGAGING IN THIS TYPE OF COMMERCIAL SALE, SO
LONG AS THE PART OR PRODUCT WAS ORIGINALLY POSSESSED
AND USED BY THE SELLER FOR HIS OWN PRIVATE PURPOSES. THIS
ACT ALSO DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION OF A SEAL, OR
ANY PART OR PRODUCT THEREOF SO LONG AS THIS IS DONE FOR
LEGITIMATE ZOOLOGICAL, EDUCATIONAL, OR SCIENTIFIC
PURPOSES.

(C)   ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON
CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED FOR EACH VIOLATION NOT MORE
THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00) OR IMPRISONED FOR
SIX MONTHS, OR BOTH FINED AND IMPRISONED AT THE