126 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 
The particular result aimed at by shortening the above — 
periods is that members of the general public may become 
lessees of barren bottoms for oyster culture within three 
months instead of ten months after the date of opening barren 
bottoms for lease. 
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. pe 
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 is 
remain an open and unproductive common. oa 
The Commission therefore recommends that such bottoms 
available for oyster culture as may not be leased to citizens of 
the State within two vears from the date of opening such bot-_ a 
toms for lease, be opened for lease for oyster culture to non-_ 
residents of Maryland. 
} 
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1 
CONCLUSION. 
As the survey of the vast area of Natural Oyster grounds 
beneath the tide waters of the State approaches completion, it 
is the opinion of the Commission that the area exclusive of 
the natural oyster bars, beneath the waters of Maryland, 
which may ultimately be brought under a state of profitable me: 
oyster culture, will approximate 350,000 acres. . 
Of this latter area, it may be conservatively stated that 
about 100,000 acres is first-class oyster land, and will be read- 
ily leased by those desiring to engage in the business of hed- 
ding and planting oysters, as soon as the Haman Oyster Cul- 
ture Law is so amended as to cover such omissions as the 
practical operations of the law have seemed to demand, since — 
its enactment in 1906. a3 
When it is considered by high authorities that the Chesa- _ 
peake Bay and its many tributaries furnish some of the best 
oyster producing area in the United States, and when it isad- 
mitted that at least 100,000 acres of bottom, as above stated, A 
can be made productive with comparatively slight expense, it 
is apparent to those who have given the subject careful — 
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