Ch. 6 LAWS OF MARYLAND

BE referred to in this section as the ["Flats. "] "FLATS": The portion of the
Chesapeake Bay and tributaries lying south of a line drawn east from Concord
Lighthouse in Harford County to Carpenters Point on the western shore of Cecil
County, and north of a line beginning at the lighthouse on Turkey Point in Cecil County
and drawn westerly to a point [half a] ONE-HALF mile north of the northerly part of
Spesutie Island, then continuing the line westward but at no time approaching nearer
than [a half] ONE-HALF mile from the northern end of this island and the adjacent
mainland until it reaches the Harford County shore at or near Oakington.

(b) (1) A person may hunt wild waterfowl only by means of body booting or
from stationary blinds, blind sites, and other licensed gunning rigs which shall be
without power, except oars, and may be used in shooting or gunning over decoys.
However, an outboard motor may be used on a sneak boat to make the run back to
"John goose" or cabin boat after the scull has been made and the shots taken, but [no
shots may] SHOTS MAY NOT be fired while the motor is attached, except as
permitted by federal law or rule or regulation.

(c) (1) A person may not hunt wild waterfowl in or over the Flats from a boat
of any [kind] KIND, except [one] A BOAT permitted by the provisions of this title.

(2) On the Flats, a person may not possess a gunning rig less than the
minimum size provided in § 10-609(a) OF THIS SUBTITLE, except when used at a
blind site as provided by law. The possession of any gunning rig less than minimum size
by any person on the Flats between November 1 and February 1, following, shall be
prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

(3) A person may not sail any vessel or craft which has connected or in tow
any hunting paraphernalia ordinarily used for hunting wild waterfowl on the Flats on
any [day] DAY, except a legal gunning day. However, to secure a berth for legal
gunning days any boat or gunning rig may use the main channel between 6 p. m. and 12
o'clock midnight on the evening of the preceding day to reach the waters above a line
from Point Concord Lighthouse in Harford County to Stumps Point in Cecil County,
and also may use the main channel to reach the waters below a line from Locust Point
in Harford County to Turkey Point in Cecil County. Any person, boat, or any device
may not cross these lines until 3: 15 a. m. of a legal gunning day. A person may not cross
this line to set a gunning rig in any boat other than [one] A BOAT carrying or towing
the entire gunning rig.

(4) A gunning rig or any craft connected with a rig, whether or not
anchored, may not be on the Flats before 3: 15 a. m. local standard time on any gunning
day.

(5) In addition to any penalty provided by this title, any natural resources
police officer or any law enforcement officer who finds any gunning rig violating this
provision shall seize [it] THE GUNNING RIG at once and remove [it] 'THE
GUNNING RIG from the Flats. The vessel may not be returned to the Flats until the
case is heard and determined.

(d) Any person who is a riparian owner on the Chesapeake Bay or the northeast
river adjacent to the lines defined in this section [,] or [his] THE OWNER'S assignee[,]

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