Whoever knowingly and wilfully transports or removes or attempts to transport or remove to any point or place of deposit beyond the territorial limits of the State, by any process or in any manner, any dredging, earth, dirt, mud, soil, sand, silt or other material of any kind, either in a solid or liquid state, that is taken, dug, dredged or excavated from under the waters of the bays, rivers and creeks within the limits of the State, in the prosecution of works of improvement or maintenance of any channelway or harbor within the State, shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $2,500, or imprisoned for not less than 30 days nor more than 1 year, or both.