BANGOR – Merrill Merchants Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Merrill Bank, announced Monday that it has declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per share of its common stock for the fourth quarter of 2005. This dividend represents an increase of 17 percent over the dividend from same quarter in 2004, the company indicated in a press release. The $0.17 cash dividend will be payable to all shareholders of record as of Jan. 17, 2006, and will be paid on Jan. 31, 2006, the statement indicated.