WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                      Ch. 12

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-1001(a) and (r)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,

Article - Natural   Resources

Section 4-1001(o)

Annotated Code of   Maryland

(1983 Replacement   Volume and 1988 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly that this
Act does not expand the areas in the waters of the State in which
a person may otherwise legally use patent tongs; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-1001.

(a) In this subtitle!,] the following words have the
meanings indicated.

(o) "Patent tongs" means any pincers, nippers, tongs, or
similar device used to catch oysters and clams raised with rope,
cable, or other hoisting gear.

(r) (1) "Tong" means any pincers, nippers, tongs, or
similar device used in catching oysters and clams and consisting
of 2 shafts or handles and a metal body composed of 2 opposable
and complementary baskets that:

(i) Are opened, closed, and emptied entirely by
hand; and

(ii) 1. Are lifted by hand; or

2. May use power to assist lifting the
tongs with a single lifting cable or rope attached at only a
single point on 1 shaft of the tongs [and may be rigged so that
lifting of the tongs can be assisted no higher than the surface
of the water].

(2) "Tong" includes:

(i) Shaft tongs; and

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