HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2783

Chapter 203 of the Acts of the
General Assembly of 1979
Section 2

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-1013.

(e) All submerged land of the State not leased for
cultivation of oysters nor designated as dredging territory
by the provisions of this subtitle shall be reserved for
tongers exclusively. The owner, captain, master or any crew
member of any boat may not catch oysters by scoop,
handscrape, or dredge, or attempt or conspire to catch
oysters by scoop, handscrape, or dredge, from any submerged
land of the State reserved for tongers exclusively or closed
by any rule or regulation, or order of the Department. The
taking of oysters by scoop, dredge or handscrape by hand may
be authorized by the Secretary upon the recommendations of
the appropriate county tongers committee, in areas reserved
for tonging when areas which are otherwise designated for
handscraping, dredging, and scooping TONGING for oysters are
closed because of icing conditions FOR AT LEAST 7
CONSECUTIVE DAYS. HANDSCRAPING MAY BE AUTHORIZED ON A DAY
FOR WORKING DAY BASIS ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS WHEN
TONGING IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ICE COVER, BUT NOT TO
EXCEED 14 WORKING DAYS. THE SECRETARY MAY SPECIFY AREAS TO
BE OPENED AND RESTRICTIONS ON GEAR. There shall be a limit
of 10 bushels per man and no more than 30 bushels per boat.
A person may not handscrape for oysters after 12 noon.
However, this subsection does not apply to catching seed
oysters under the surveillance and with the permission of
the Department.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That chapter(s)
of the Acts of the General Assembly be repealed, amended, or
enacted to read as follows:

Chapter 203 of the Acts of 1979

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the
provisions of this Act shall expire automatically on
September 15, [1980] 1983 without any further action
required by the General Assembly.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is
shall take effect July 1, 1980. hereby declared to be an

emergency measure and necessary for the immediate

preservation of the public health and safety and having been