THE OYSTER- INDUSTRY. 177 



Sec. 2. Tho measure iirovidcd for above shall bo inspected and stamped by the proper oflicer in Baltimore, and it sliall be unlawful 

 to use any otlier measure, except for oysters shii^ped in tho barrel ou any steamboat, to bo sold in the barrel. 



Laws of 1878, chapter 325. 



Section 1. The act of January, 1874, relating to catcMug oysters with scoops or light dredges in Dorchester county, is repealed and 

 re-enacted to read as follows : 



Sec. 2. It shall be lawful for citizens of Dorchester county to catch oysters with scoop or light dredge in boats not exceeding ten 

 tons burden, * * * in Houga river, Hooper's straits, Par bay, and that part of Fishing bay which lies to the southward and westward 

 of a straight line drawn from the middle of the mouth of Tedious creek to Clay island light-house, and in all the waters to the southward 

 and eastward of Clay island, in Dorchester county, and adjoining the Wicomico lines up to Sandy island ; Provided, That no boat or boats 

 licensed under the pro%'isions of this act shall work within 200 yards of the shore ; and tho board of comity commissioners for Dorchester 

 county shall purchase two buoys of proper size and have them properly anchored on said straight line, between Tedious creek and Clay 

 island light-house, and the captain of the oyster-sloop of the second district shall place them in i)osition. 



Sec. 3. In order to avail themselves of the privileges of section 2, a license must be procured from clerk of circuit court, good for 

 one year, but not jiermitting any catching of oysters between May 1 and September 15, following. 



Sec. 4. Every such license shall state the name and residence of the person to whom the same is to be granted, the number beginning 

 with two hundred, together with the true tonnage of said boat or vessel, according to the rule of custom-house measurement ; and every 

 owner of a boat or vessel shall pay $2 per ton for every ton said boat or vessel shall measure. 



Sec. 5. The board of school commissioners of Dorchester coimty shall appoint a competent person to measure all boats licensed under 

 this act. 



Sec. 6. Measurer must give $500 bonds, and shall receive 50 cents per ton measured, as compensation. 



Sec. 7. Any applicant for a license under this act, shall make oath that he has been a honafide resident of said county for the twelve 

 months next preceding his application for said license, and that he intends to use said vessel only in said county, and that he will comply 

 with and obey all laws of this state regulating the catching of oysters ; and any person to whom said license shall have been granted 

 shall paint the number of his boat on each beam, near tho gunwales, on a white field, with black letters, seven inches in length. 



Sec. 8. Enacts heavy penalties for use of any sort of boat without a license, with right of appeal. 



Sec. 9. Directs all moneys arising from fines and forfeitures to be immediately credited to the public-school fund of the county. 



Sec. 10. Prohibits taking oysters with scoops or dredges in all waters reserved for tonging. 



Sec. 11. Fees allowed clerk of circuit court. 



Sec. 12. Adds Great Choptank river to ground privileged to be worked with scoops or di-edges. 



Laws of 1868, chapter 228. 



Section 1. Prohibits catching oy.sters "with rakes, drags, or dredge within the waters of Honga river, in Dorchester county, or in 

 the Nauticoke river at or above Koaring point, in Dorchester and Wicomico counties, in (luautities over five bushels in any one day" 

 during June, July, and August. 



Sec. 2. Forfeitures and fines fixed for violation of the above section to be paid into the school fund. 



Laivs of 1876, chapter 396. 



Section 1. Forbids catching oysters in Dorchester county during June, July, and August, except five bushels a week for family use. 



Sec. 2. Penalties upon conviction of violations: a fine of |10 and forfeiture of boat ami canoe employed ; oue-half the fines and the 

 proceeds of the sale of the boat to go to the informers, and the remainder to be paid into the free-school treasury of Dorchester county; 

 provided, that nothing in this act shall apply to catching oysters in either the Great or Little Choptank rivers or their tributaries in 

 Dorchester county. 



Sec. 3. All boats condemned shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, after ten days' notice of the time and 

 place of sale. 



Laics of 1878, chapter 359. 



Section 1. Repeals chapter 437, passed January, 1874, and chapter 40.5, passed January, 1876, and re-enacts as follows : 

 Section 1. The clerk of the circuit court of Talbot or Dorchester county shall, upon the application of any person who has been a 

 resident of such county for twelve months next preceding such application, and to no other i)erson, issue a license to such resident to 

 employ any boat of a capacity of ten tons or under in taking oysters with dredge, scoop, or scrape in the waters of the Choptank river in 

 said counties, for sale to any jicrson, between September 15 in each year and June 1 next following; Provided, That nothing iu this act 

 shall authorize the taking of oysters with dredge, scoop, or scrape above a straight line drawn from Oyster Shell point, on the Dorchester 

 shore, to the Talbot shore, immediately opposite, or in any tributaries of said liver above or below said Oyster Shell point ; and provided, 

 further, that the ajiplicant shall pay to said clerk, before the issuing of said license, the sum of $2 per ton, which said license shall bo 

 good for twelve months from the day of its issue ; and until such license is obtained it .shall be unlawful to use or emjiloy any vessel in 

 taking or catching oysters as hereinbefore described; provided, that the waters of Talbot county lying between Black Walnut point and 

 a line drawn from Tilghmau's point to the southwest ijoint of Parson's island, except the waters between Poplar islaud and the mainland, 

 lying within a lino drawn from a point of land on the north side of Ferry cove, known as Lowe's point, to the northern extremity of 

 Poplar island on the north, to a line from the northwest extremity of Tilghman's island to the southern extremity of south bar of Poplar 

 island on the south, which are hereby reserved for the use of tongmen, shall be ojjened to the citizens of Talbot county, licensed under 

 this act, between Seiitembcr 15 in each year and May 1 next following, but it shall be unlawful to take oysters with scoop or dredge in 

 any other waters of Talbot county; provided, also, that tho waters of Choptank river, lying north of a straight line running from Benoni's 

 point, to Clora's point, are hereby reserved for tongmen, and it shall not be lawful to catch oysters with scoop, scrape, or similar instrument 

 to the northward of said line. 



Secs. 3 to 11. Substantially reproduce the provisions of laws of 1876, chapter 405, heretofore quoted, as to terms of application for 

 license and penalties for violation. 



CALVERT COUNTY.— ifliis o/1870, chapter 188. 



Section 1. Catching of oysters for sale prohibited in Saint Leonard's creek. Island creek, and Battle creek in Civlvcrt county, except 

 such oysters as have been "imbedded or iilanted". 

 12 O 



