Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 107 



Fish Commissioners, to prosecute any one violating the provisions, 

 of this section. The net proceeds of fines collected under this sec- 

 tion shall be applied as follows : One-half of the same shall be paid 

 to the informer, if any, and the remainder shall be applied according 

 to the provisions of Section 1 18 of this Article." 



OTHER AMENDMENTS DESIRABLE BUT NOT 

 FUNDAMENTAL. 



5. Extension of Period for Payment of One-Dollar Rentals. 



After a careful consideration of conditions which have attended 

 the establishment of oyster culture in Maryland since the passage of 

 the Haman Oyster Culture Law by the General Assembly of 1906, 

 and in response to a demand among oyster planters for a reduction 

 of rentals charged by the State for the use of barren bottoms, until, 

 at least, a reasonable opportunity has been accorded those who have, 

 or may hereafter become engaged in oyster culture, to demonstrate 

 the wisdom of such a policy in Maryland, the Commission recom- 

 mends that the provision of Section 98, under which the rate of 

 rentals gradually increases until a maximum of five dollars per acre 

 is reached on the sixth year of the lease, be suspended for a period 

 of six years, dating from April 1, 191 2, on all leases which have 

 heretofore or which may hereafter be made, to the end that all ren- 

 tal charges to April 1, 191 8, shall be fixed at the rate of one dollar 

 per acre per annum. 



6. Respecting Non-Residents of the State. 



Under the provisions of the Haman Oyster Culture Law, bona 

 fide residents of the State of Maryland only may lease grounds for 

 oyster culture. 



It is possible, however, that when citizens of the State shall have 

 leased such bottoms as they desire to cultivate, some of the bottoms 

 available and suitable for oyster culture will yet remain an open and 

 unproductive common. 



The Commission therefore recommends that such bottoms availa- 

 ble for oyster culture as may not be leased to citizens of the State 

 within two years from the date of opening such bottoms for lease. 

 *be opened for lease for oyster culture to non-residents of Maryland. 



