Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1701

CHAPTER 588
(House Bill 415)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section SEC-
TIONS 263(B) AND 263(c) of Article 66C of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1967 Replacement Volume), title "Natural Re-
sources," subtitle "Fish and Fisheries," subheading "Part 2. Tidal
Waters," TO REPEAL SECTIONS 296 AND 297 THEREOF,
AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 299, 302, AND 304A THEREOF
AND ENACT NEW SECTIONS 299, 302, AND 304A TO STAND
IN THE PLACE OF THE SECTIONS REPEALED, relating gen-
erally to the elimination of certain yardage provisions in regard
to hoop nets and gill nets in the State of Maryland TO ESTAB-
LISH A MAXIMUM QUANTITY FOR COMMERCIAL FISH-
ING GEAR LICENSES, TO ESTABLISH A FEE FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF SAID LICENSES: and relating generally to the
licensing of same SAID LICENSES AND RESTRICTED PER-
MITS FOR USE OF GILL NETS BY RIPARIAN OWNERS.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section SECTIONS 263(B) AND 263(c) of Article 66C of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1967 Replacement Volume), title
"Natural Resources," subtitle "Fish and Fisheries," subheading "Part
2. Tidal Waters," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, SECTIONS 299 AND 302 THEREOF ARE HEREBY
REPEALED AND SECTIONS 299, 302, AND 304A THEREOF
ARE HEREBY REPEALED AND NEW SECTIONS 299, 302, AND
304A ENACTED, TO STAND IN THE PLACE OF THE SECTIONS
SO REPEALED, ALL to read as follows:

263.

(B) IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO
TAKE OR CATCH OR ATTEMPT TO TAKE OR CATCH FINFISH
[FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES] (EXCEPT EELS) IN THE
TIDAL WATERS OF THIS STATE BY THE USE OF ANY NET
OR OTHER DEVICE [,] EXCEPT HOOK AND LINE, DIP NET
OPERATED BY HAND, [FYKE OR HOOP NET LESS THAN
40 YARDS IN LENGTH, OR POUND NET WITH AN OVERALL
LENGTH NOT IN EXCESS OF 40 YARDS, UNLESS HE IS THE
HOLDER OF A LICENSE TO OPERATE THE SAME DULY
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION OF TIDEWATER FISHERIES,
AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED. NO PERSON MAY USE MORE
THAN 5 OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED POUND NETS.] SPEAR-
GUN, OR BOW AND ARROW AS PROVIDED IN THIS AR-
TICLE, UNLESS HE HAS IN POSSESSION A VALID COMMER-
CIAL FISHING LICENSE ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ARTICLE.

(c) It shall be unlawful for the Commission of Tidewater Fish-
eries DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES to license the
use of any net or other device for catching finfish for commercial
purposes in the tidal waters of this State, except the following: Pound
net, haul seine, and fyke or hoop net, [more than 40 yards in length,]
and gill net. [more than 100 yards in length.] THOSE ENUMER-
ATED IN SECTION 302 OF THIS ARTICLE.