(a) Each and every person desiring to engage in the business of wholesale fish dealer in this state shall annually on or before January 1 in every year make application to the Commissioner of Agriculture for a license in which such applicant shall state his name, his post office address, the nature of business in which he desires to engage, and the place at which he proposes to conduct his business. Such applicant shall also furnish to the Commissioner such other and additional information as the Commissioner may require. When such information is furnished, the Commissioner shall advise the applicant the amount of the license tax required of such applicant, and when said annual license tax is paid, the Commissioner shall issue to such applicant a license which shall particularly state the nature of the business which the applicant thereunder is authorized to conduct in this state and the place or places from which it may be conducted.

(b) The annual license fee shall be payable on or before January 1 of each and every year thereafter; provided, however, that whenever an application is submitted after July 1 of any year, the annual license fee for the remaining portion of such year shall be one-half of the annual license fee provided for in Code Section 26-2-312.