MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 595

EACH STATE ALONG THE SHORES OF THE POTOMAC RIVER
ADJOINING THEIR LANDS SHALL BE NEITHER DIMINISHED,
RESTRICTED, ENLARGED, INCREASED NOR OTHERWISE ALTERED
BY THIS COMPACT, AND THE DECISIONS OF THE COURTS
CONSTRUING THAT PORTION OF ARTICLE VII OF THE COMPACT
OF 1785 RELATING TO THE RIGHTS OF RIPARIAN OWNERS
SHALL BE GIVEN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

SECTION 2. EXISTING LAWS. THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND RELATING TO FINFISH, CRABS, OYSTERS,
AND CLAMS IN THE POTOMAC RIVER, AS SET FORTH IN
ARTICLE 66C OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND AS
IN EFFECT ON DECEMBER 1, 1958, SHALL BE AND REMAIN
APPLICABLE IN THE POTOMAC RIVER EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT
CHANGED, AMENDED, OR MODIFIED BY REGULATIONS OF THE
COMMISSION ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS COMPACT.

SECTION 3. EXISTING LICENSES. THE RIGHTS AND
PRIVILEGES OF LICENSEES TO TAKE AND CATCH FINFISH,
CRABS, OYSTERS, CLAMS, AND OTHER SHELLFISH IN THE
POTOMAC RIVER, WHICH ARE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THIS
COMPACT BECOMES EFFECTIVE, SHALL CONTINUE IN FORCE FOR
A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AT WHICH TIME EVERY SUCH
LICENSE AND EVERY SUCH RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE SHALL BE
ABROGATED.

ARTICLE VIII.
EFFECT OF RATIFICATION

THESE ARTICLES SHALL BE LAID BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND, AND THEIR
APPROBATION BEING OBTAINED, SHALL BE CONFIRMED AND
RATIFIED BY A LAW OF EACH STATE, NEVER TO BE REPEALED
OR ALTERED BY EITHER, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE
OTHER.

ARTICLE IX.
EFFECTIVE DATE

THIS COMPACT, WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF THE
COMPACT OF 1785 BETWEEN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA, SHALL
TAKE EFFECT AT THE EXPIRATION OF 60 DAYS AFTER THE
COMPLETION OF THE LAST ACT LEGALLY NECESSARY TO MAKE
IT OPERATIVE, AND THEREUPON THE SAID COMPACT OF 1785
SHALL NO LONGER HAVE ANY FORCE OR EFFECT.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS, ON THE
PART OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF