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LAWS OF MARYLAND.

	CHAPTER 396.
	AN ACT to protect oysters in the waters of Dor-
	chester county, and to prohibit the taking thereof
	in the months of June, July and August of each
	year.
	SECTION 1...Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Unlawful.	Maryland, That it shall be unlawful to take or catch
	oysters with tongs, rakes, or any other instrument
	in the waters of Dorchester county, in the months of
	June, July and August of each and every year; pro-
Proviso.	vided, that five bushels per week may be taken for
	the use of each family.
	SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person or
Penalty for	persons violating the provisions of the preceding sec-
violating.	tion shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit and pay
	the sum often dollars and the forfeiture of boat or
	canoe used in said violation, and for every subse-
	quent violation a fine of twenty dollars shall be im-
	posed and the forfeiture of boat and canoe employed
	in the violation of this act, the same to be recovered
	before any justice of the peace within said county,
	one-half of all fines, including the money arising
	from the sale or sales of boats or canoes forfeited,
	shall be awarded to the informer or informers, and
	the remainder to be paid into the free school treasury
	of Dorchester county for the use of said schools ;
	provided, nothing in the two preceding sections of
	this act, or any part thereof, shall apply to catching
	oysters in either the Great or Little Choptank Rivers
	or their tributaries, in Dorchester county.
	SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That all boats or canoes,
Sold at public	captured and condemned under the provisions of the
auction.	preceding section, shall be sold at public auction to
	the highest bidder for cash, after giving ten days'
	notice of the time and place of sale, in such manner
	as may be directed by the justice of the peace
	making the condemnation.
	Approved April 8, 1876.