Ch. 534

LAWS OF MARYLAND

in submerged land acquired under the provision of item 1. of this
subparagraph to any person, corporation, or joint stock company.

3. Any transfer or attempt to transfer an
interest in submerged land acquired under the provisions of item
1. of this subparagraph shall be void, and the interest in
submerged land shall revert to the State without the necessity of
any action by the State.]

(3) Under rules and regulations that the Department
adopts, and in conjunction with the 4-H advisory board in a
county, the Department may make equal and matching grants of up
to $1,000 a county for any number of 4-H clubs in a county that:

(i) Are actively involved in oyster cultivation
research;

(ii) Are leasing or acquiring any submerged
land under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and

(iii) Have received or have a guarantee to
receive a research grant from the county for oyster cultivation
research.

(b)  [The] EXCEPT FOR SUBMERGED AREAS WITHIN AQUACULTURE
ENTERPRISE ZONES, THE Department may not lease any of the
submerged areas of the State within the jurisdictional boundaries
of Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset and Talbot counties
for oyster cultivation[. The Department also may not] , NOR
MAY THE DEPARTMENT lease any of the submerged areas of the State
in the tidewater tributaries of Charles County, except the
Patuxent River, for oyster cultivation. This subsection does not
affect any existing lease in Somerset County made prior to and
effective on June 1, 1952; any lease in Dorchester County made
prior to and effective on June 1, 1957; in Charles County made
prior to and effective on July 1, 1968 and in Kent, Queen Anne's
and Talbot counties made prior to July 1, 1973. This subsection
also does not prevent any lessee from renewing, assigning,
devising by will or prohibit the descendents of any lessee, his
heirs, or next of kin, from inheriting rights by the operation of
the laws of descent and distribution. If an existing lease does
not provide for renewal, the Department may grant renewal when
the lease terminates unless good cause to the contrary is shown.
However, a person may not lease more acreage than now authorized
by law regardless of the manner in which the lease or the rights
under the lease are obtained.

(c)  A lease may not be granted for any of the following
submerged areas of the State, and a person may not acquire by
lease, assignment, appropriation, or otherwise any of the
enumerated areas: any area beneath any creek, cove, bay, or inlet
less than 300 feet wide at. its mouth at mean low tide; any
natural oyster or natural clam bar as defined in this subtitle;

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