226 Our Food Mollusks 



All bottoms not included in natural beds were set aside 

 for lease. 



Boundaries of natural beds, as determined by the Com- 

 mission, may be decided by Judges of Circuit Courts. 



Within the territorial limits of any of the counties, no 

 person shall lease or acquire more than ten acres. One 

 hundred acres may be acquired in the bay outside county 

 lines. 



The terms of lease are twenty years, rental being one 

 dollar an acre for the first and second years, two dollars 

 for the third, three dollars for the fourth, four dollars 

 for the fifth, and five dollars a year for the remainder of 

 the term. 



No right is given to redeem or purchase land so leased. 



Severe penalties are provided for injury to state buoys, 

 and for the theft of oysters from leased bottoms. 



The state fisheries force shall prevent violations of the 

 act. 



The Commission appointed by the Governor was of 

 great efficiency. One of its members, a professional 

 biologist who had had extensive experience in oyster 

 work and a complete knowledge of the entire subject of 

 oyster culture, took charge of the field work. 



By an act of Congress, it was directed that members of 

 the Bureau of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the 

 Bureau of Fishes, should aid the Maryland Shell-fish 

 Commission in making the survey of the natural oyster 

 beds in Maryland. This aid was promptly given, the ex- 

 penses being met by a special appropriation from the na- 

 tional treasury. It is a fact not generally noticed, per- 

 haps, that federal aid in oyster investigation and sur- 

 veys, has frequently been extended to states, which, in 

 some instances, have profited largely by it. 



