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124. Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 
Believing, however, that planters may be unrestricted in 
the methods employed by them in gathering oysters from 
planted bottoms without thereby endangering the interests 
of oystermen on the natural bars, the Commission recom- 
mends that the right to plant, cultivate and gather oysters 
from lots leased in any part of the State, by any means what- 
soever and at any time whatsoever, be granted, and that 
severe penalties be provided for dredging or otherwise taking 
oysters by planters beyond the limits of their private lots. 
EXTENSION OF PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF ONE DOLLAR RENTALS, 
After a careful consideration of conditions which have at- 
tended 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 oppor- 
tunity 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 recommends 
that the provision of Section 98, under which the rate of ren- 
tals 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 Ist, 1910, on all leases 
which have heretofore, or which may hereafter be made, to 
the end that all rental charges to April 1st, 1916, shall be fixed 
at the rate of one dollar per acre per annum. 
COLLECTION OF RENTS. 
It was supposed by the framers and advocates of the oyster 
culture law that the demand for oyster lots would be so great 
and the need by oyster planters for the protection afforded 
by the State would be so pressing that little difficulty would 
be found in leasing the grounds open for lease or in collect- 
ing rents for the use of the same. The only provision, there- 
fore, made in the law by which the Commission may enforce 
the payment of rent is that contained in Section 98, which 
reads as follows: 
Secrion 98. If any part of the rent reserved under such leases shall remain 
unpaid for more than six months, after the same becomes due, such lease or leases 
shall be declared void, and the land shall revert to the State, and may be leased 
again in accordance with the provisions of this Act 
