30 
porated in this third plan. When it was apparent that the 
bill enacting the third plan was about to pass both the House 
and the Senate, the Governor called together some of those 
who were interested in pushing the bill and intimated clearly 
that he would not sign it unless certain modifications were 
made. ‘These modifications were then made, the bill was 
passed and received the Executive’s signature and has been 
upheld as constitutional by the Court of Appeals. 
This bill, commonly known as the Shepherd Bill, leaves 
much of the prior Haman and Price-Campbell bills untouched, 
but modifies them in certain important particulars. 
First—It writes into the law a definition of natural bar. 
Second—It establishes a neutral zone around all natural 
beds or bars. . 
Third—lIt provides for a re-examination and re-classification 
at any time, upon the initiative of the Board of Shell Fish Com- 
missioners, of any land, natural or barren, except leased land. 
Fourth—It provides that no land shall be leased until after 
the application for it has been advertised for thirty days and 
an additional period of thirty days has passed without the 
filing of a protest in the Circuit Court. This protest, if filed, 
is treated as a case at law and the decision rendered by the 
Court is final and conclusive. 
Fifth—It provides for re-classification on the initiative of 
any three or more residents of the State of any area classed 
as barren, provided that action was taken before January 1, 
1915. This re-classification was to be by the court and not by 
the Commission, and if the area protested should be found by 
the Court to be natural bottom, any leased areas included 
therein were to be condemned by the State and thrown open 
to general use. 
There were other modifications of the original law, but they 
were of minor importance. The changes above mentioned are 
the only ones which need further discussion at this time. 
Tut N&éw DEFINITION 
The new definition is an acceptance of the Goldsborough 
definition as an underlying principle, but restricting its appli- 
cation to a period of five years prior to the date at which the 
