reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-307 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 3 - Interstate Compacts Concerning Fish and Fisheries and Related Laws|Part II - Potomac River Compact of 1958|Section 4-307 - Powers of Potomac River Fisheries Commission

    The Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have the power to make, adopt, and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for authorizing and regulating the dredging of oysters in areas of the Potomac River within its geographical jurisdiction and may levy license and repletion fees for same.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1002 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1002 - Dredging for Clams or Oysters Prohibited

    Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a person may not catch or attempt to catch clams or oysters by power dredge, hydraulic clam dredge, or other mechanical means in the Atlantic Coastal Bays, as defined in § 8–1802 of this article.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1003 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1003 - Residents May Catch Oysters and Clams

    Any resident of the State may catch oysters or clams on any area in the waters of the State from which catching oysters or clams is permitted under the provisions of this subtitle. This section applies to catching oysters or clams by rakes, tongs, patent tongs, dredges, handscrapes, or by other means permitted by law for the particular area. This section applies also to catching clams by hydraulic or mechanical dredges or rigs permitted by law for the particular area. This section does not affect any provision of this subtitle concerning the licensing or regulation of catching oysters or clams, except as specifically provided in this section.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1004 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1004 - License to Catch Oysters and Clams Commercially

    (a)    (1)    A resident may catch up to 1 bushel each of oysters and clams a day for the person’s own use and consumption without a license, in places and at times prescribed by regulation of the Department.        (2)    A nonresident may catch in the tidal bays of Worcester County up to 1 bushel of hard clams per day for the nonresident’s own use and consumption.    (b)    Only a resident of the State may obtain a license to catch oysters or clams for commercial purposes in the waters of the State.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1005 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1005 - Devices for Catching Oysters and Clams; Patent Tongs; String Culture of Oysters

    (a)    Subject to restrictions promulgated pursuant to this subtitle, a person may catch oysters or clams in the waters of the State only by hand, rakes, tongs, patent tongs, diving apparatus, dredges, handscrapes, cultch material suspended on strings, in trays, in bags, or similar devices. Soft-shell clams may be caught by hydraulic or mechanical dredges or rigs.    (b)    The Department may make uniform the size and weight of patent tongs in waters where patent tongs are permitted. However, any person using any size or weight patent tongs on June 1, 1964, may continue to use them.    (c)    A person may catch oyster spat in the waters of the State by suspended means such as cultch material on strings, trays, bags, or similar devices, which do not touch the bottom and do not interfere with navigation.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1006 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1006 - Catching Oysters or Clams in Certain Areas Prohibited

    (a)    A person may not catch oysters or clams within 400 yards of the Federal Research Laboratory at Oxford.    (b)    (1)    A person may not catch oysters or clams on any area closed by the Department of the Environment due to pollution.        (2)    However, oysters may be transplanted from areas deemed polluted during the closed season in accordance with the provisions of § 4-1009 of this subtitle and § 4-1106 of this title.        (3)    (i)    If the Department of the Environment closes any area to the catching of oysters or clams under this subsection, in addition to the notice required in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Department of Natural Resources shall mark the area so that the area can be seen from the water.            (ii)    The Department of Natural Resources shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the marking in a plain and visibly obvious fashion of any area that is closed to the catching of oysters or clams because of pollution. Even in the absence of such marking devices, a person may not catch oysters or clams in a restricted area as designated by the Department of the Environment if notice has been given to the appropriate governing body and the committee of watermen of any county affected by the restriction.    (c)    During the open season for migratory wild waterfowl, a person may not catch oysters in Charles County within 500 yards of any stationary blind or blind site which is occupied and is being used for hunting migratory wild waterfowl.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1006.2 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1006.2 - Maps and Coordinates of Oyster Sanctuaries, Closed Oyster Reserve Areas, and Areas Closed to Shellfish Harvest

    (a)    The Department annually shall publish maps and coordinates of oyster sanctuaries, closed oyster harvest reserve areas, and areas closed to shellfish harvest by the Department of the Environment.    (b)    (1)    The Department shall provide the publications required under this section to each tidal fish licensee who pays the  oyster surcharges required under § 4–701(g) of this title.        (2)    Before a person may catch oysters under a tidal fish license that has an oyster authorization and for which the oyster surcharges have been paid, the person shall certify  to the Department on a form the Department prescribes that the  person received the publications required under this section.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1007 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part I - General Provisions Relating to Oysters and Clams|Section 4-1007 - Designation of Buying Stations for Oysters and Clams; Forms

    (a)    The Department may adopt regulations designating oyster and clam buying stations and establishing the procedures for selling oysters and clams.    (b)    The Department shall print up and make available to the buyer of oysters or clams the necessary forms required in regulations adopted under this section.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1008.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1008.1 - Prolonging Season; Handscraping in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties

    (a)    The Department may prolong by not more than two weeks the season for catching oysters.    (b)    (1)    On the recommendation of the Calvert County or the St. Mary’s County tongers’ committee, the Department may authorize handscraping of oysters in the waters of Calvert and St. Mary’s counties for 2 weeks, if inclement weather has prevailed during the tonging season.        (2)    The Department shall determine the areas where handscraping of oysters is permitted.        (3)    The Department shall establish regulations for the handscraping of oysters under this subsection. There shall be a catch limit of 10 bushels per person and no more than 30 bushels per boat. A person may not handscrape for oysters after 12:00 noon.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1009 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1009 - Catching Oysters on Natural Oyster Bars

    (a)    During the closed season for taking oysters, a person may take seed oysters from the natural bars of the State marked by the Department for a period not exceeding one month in any one year, at times designated by the Department. The seed oysters shall be taken only in accordance with rules and regulations the Department prescribes, sold only to lessees of private oyster grounds, delivered only on leased oyster bottoms and subject to the provisions of § 4–1103(c) of this title.    (b)    The Secretary may establish by rule or regulation daily catch limits on the quantities of oysters which may be caught from the waters of the State except leased areas and aquaculture enterprise zones, and may amend the daily catch limits to conserve the public oyster resource. Notice of the establishment or amendment of these catch limits, including all applicable reasons for the Department’s action, shall be given before publication, to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review and by publication of the notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the State, in at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the affected waters are located, and on the website of the Department not less than one week prior to the effective date.    (c)    A person may not land, sell, or attempt to land or sell on any day oysters from the waters of the State exceeding the daily catch limit established by the Secretary by more than 10 percent. However, in emergencies, the Department may authorize unloading up to two daily catch limits in 1 day. A licensed oyster buyer or dealer may sell or attempt to sell oysters which he shows were purchased from another catcher.    (d)    All oysters landed or offered for sale on any day by any person licensed to catch oysters which are in excess of the daily catch limit shall become the property of the State, and payment shall be made directly to the State by the buyer or receiver of the oysters at the same price paid the catcher for the balance of his catch. All funds received under this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of the Fisheries Research and Development Fund and shall be used for repletion of the natural oyster bars of the State.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1009.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1009.1 - Designation of Harvest Reserve Area

    (a)    The Department may adopt regulations which designate an area as a harvest reserve area for oysters.    (b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, by publishing public notice, the Department may establish for a harvest reserve area:        (1)    The opening or closure of an area for the harvesting or conservation of oysters;        (2)    The harvest limit;        (3)    The seasons, days, and times when oysters may be harvested;        (4)    A minimum size limit of not less than 3 inches; and        (5)    A maximum size limit.    (c)    (1)    An action of the Department under subsection (b) of this section may not become effective until:            (i)    A copy of the notice to be published under item (ii) of this paragraph has been delivered to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review; and            (ii)    48 hours after notice has been published:                1.    In at least one newspaper of general circulation in the State;                2.    In at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the affected waters are located; and                3.    On the website of the Department.        (2)    The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall state all applicable reasons for the Department’s action.    (d)    The Department shall use the following biological criteria for the opening and closing of a harvest reserve area:        (1)    Growth rates;        (2)    Disease prevalence and intensity;        (3)    Mortality thresholds; and        (4)    Biomass thresholds.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1010 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1010 - Possession of Patent Tong Heads in Kent, Queen Anne's, and Wicomico Counties

    A person may not have patent tong heads on board a boat when shaft tonging in Queen Anne’s County, Wicomico County, and Kent County waters.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1012 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1012 - Areas Where Dredging Prohibited; Prima Facie Evidence of Dredging

    (a)    A person may not catch oysters by dredge in the Atlantic Coastal Bays, as defined in § 8–1802 of this article, or in the following areas of the Chesapeake Bay: the area bounded by a line drawn from Lowes Point towards the Bloody Point Lighthouse for a distance of 1.8 miles, and then direct to North Point on Poplar Island; then southerly around the westerly shore of Poplar Island to the southwesterly most point; then running in a straight line to the Department marker on the northern shore of Pawpaw Cove which area shall be reserved for catching of oysters with shaft tongs only; all the area lying within one–fourth mile of the western shore of Poplar Island; all the area within one–half mile of Plum Point; all the area within one and one–half miles of Sandy Point, Hackett Point, Tolly Point, and Thomas  Point within Anne Arundel County waters; and the following oyster bars: 2–9, 2–10, 5–1, 5–2, 5–3A, 5–3B, 8–2, 8–6, and 8–9, as defined by the charts of the Oyster Survey of 1906 to 1912, and its amendments.    (b)    Any boat sailing over any areas of the State which are exempt from dredging, by this subtitle or by rule or regulation of the Department, with any dredge, scrape, scoop, or similar instrument on board or in tow, may be apprehended by any Natural Resources police officer or any other law enforcement officer. If the boat has on board any wet oysters, dredge, or dredge line, or if the deck is wet and the boat is equipped for catching oysters with dredge or similar instrument, these facts shall be prima facie evidence that the boat has been used to violate the provisions of this section.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1014.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1014.1 - Oyster Sanctuaries in Somerset County

    (a)    This section applies only to the waters of the State that lie contiguous to Somerset County in the Chesapeake Bay.    (b)    There is an oyster sanctuary in Monie Bay known as the Webster ground that includes all the waters inshore of a line northeasterly from Long Point to a designated point in Monie Bay at latitude 38 degrees, 12 minutes, 37.8 seconds north, longitude 75 degrees, 51 minutes, 51.0 seconds west, then southwesterly to the eastern entrance to Pigeon House Creek.    (c)    A person may not catch oysters in the oyster sanctuary described in subsection (b) of this section or an oyster sanctuary that was established by regulations adopted by the Department.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1014.2 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1014.2 - Oyster Sanctuaries in Calvert County

    (a)    This section applies only to the waters of the State that lie contiguous to Calvert County in the Chesapeake Bay.    (b)    A person may not catch oysters in an oyster sanctuary that was established by regulations adopted by the Department.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1014.3 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1014.3 - Oyster Sanctuaries in St. Mary's County

    (a)    This section applies only to the waters of the State that lie contiguous to St. Mary’s County in the Chesapeake Bay.    (b)    A person may not catch oysters in an oyster sanctuary that was established by regulations adopted by the Department.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1014.4 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1014.4 - Oyster Sanctuaries in Dorchester County

    (a)    This section applies only to the waters of the State that lie contiguous to Dorchester County in the Chesapeake Bay.    (b)    A person may not catch oysters in an oyster sanctuary that was established by regulations adopted by the Department.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1015 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1015 - Oyster Culling

    (a)    A person who catches oysters from the waters of the State with any scoop, dredge, tong, rake, or any similar instrument shall cull the oysters on the natural bar from which they were caught, and return to the bar all shells, stones, gravel, and slag. Any oyster whose shell measures less than 3 inches in distance between its longest or widest points, whether or not attached to a marketable oyster, shall be included in the culling and replaced on the bar from which caught. The Department by rule may permit the possession of marketable oysters to which nonmarketable oysters adhere so closely that it is impossible to remove them without destroying the smaller oyster. Oyster culling shall be completed before any oyster is thrown or deposited in the hold or bottom of any boat.    (b)    After culling and placing in the hold or bottom of a boat, a person’s possession of oysters may not include a combined total of more than 5 percent of oysters which measure less than 3 inches from hinge to bill, and cultch consisting of shells, stones, gravel, and slag. In ascertaining this percentage the Department shall select by random sample an amount of oysters from any pile, hold, bin, house, or place as deemed proper and require it to be culled and disposed of, as provided by this section. All small oysters and cultch that adhere to marketable oysters shall be separated, and the marketable oysters shall be excluded from any measurement of small oysters and cultch. However, a person may possess marketable oysters that have undersized oysters or spat less than 1 inch in length from hinge to bill attached to them that cannot be separated without destroying the small oyster.    (c)    A person may not transport or attempt to transport outside the State oysters measuring less than 3 inches in length from hinge to mouth regardless of whether they are caught on the natural bars of the State or from private beds and lots in the State.    (d)    The provisions of this subtitle relating to the inspection and culling of oysters and the imposition of penalties for any violation of the cull law apply to oysters in the shell found anywhere within the State, whether afloat or ashore, and whether said oysters have been caught within the waters of the State or shipped or brought into the State. However, oysters containing more than 5 percent shells or small oysters legally taken from privately owned beds outside the State may be admitted if:        (1)    Inspected by the Department prior to storage in a shucking house; and        (2)    Accompanied by a bill of sale or bill of lading issued by the private planters selling the cargo or an appropriate certificate from the authorities of the state of origin, certifying that the cargo was caught from privately owned oyster beds in the state of origin and that the oysters were caught in full compliance with the laws of that state.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1017 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1017 - Oyster License

    (a)    Unless a license first is obtained from the Department, a person may not (1) have a fixed place of business buying oysters and employing labor to prepare them for market, or (2) buy more than 25 bushels of oysters per year from persons who catch them from the natural oyster bars of the State.    (b)    The Department may not issue a license required by this section unless the applicant pays all taxes due for the prior year under § 4-1020 of this subtitle.    (c)    A person may possess oysters caught from the natural oyster bars of the State until one week past the close of the season for taking oysters as established in § 4–1008.1 of this subtitle. Oysters may be caught by dredge or handscrape at any time in Worcester County and may be shipped in the shell at any time within or from that county. In counties where oysters may be caught from leased areas at any time pursuant to the provisions of Subtitle 11A of this title, a person may possess oysters at any time.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1018 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1018 - Oyster Measures

    (a)    The Department may adopt regulations governing the size, type, and use of containers used to measure oysters harvested or sold in the State.    (b)    Due to the quantity of water contained in measures of newly shucked oysters, any proprietor or manager of a plant, house, or establishment shall measure oysters as received from the shuckers in a special gallon cup which contains no more than 9 pints. Any device other than this 9 pint gallon cup may not be used to measure any oysters received from shuckers. A Natural Resources police officer shall stamp every 9 pint gallon measure used in measuring newly shucked oysters. A proprietor or manager of any house, plant, or establishment which shucks oysters shall have every 9 pint gallon measure stamped.    (c)    Every shucked oyster sold in the State shall be sold by the standard United States one–half pint, pint, quart, or gallon liquid measure, or by fractions or multiples of these liquid measures.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1019 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1019 - Report of Buyers or Sellers of Oyster Shells Required

    Any person buying or selling oyster shells shall report to the Department, at times the Department prescribes by rule or regulation, every purchase or sale of oyster shells, stating the number of bushels purchased or sold, the date of sale, the name and address of the other party to the transaction, and any other information the Department prescribes by rule or regulation.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1019.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 10 - Oysters and Clams|Part II - Provisions Relating to Oysters|Section 4-1019.1 - Program for Return of Oyster Shells to Chesapeake Bay

    The Department shall initiate the development of a program for enactment by the Maryland General Assembly to encourage return of the State’s oyster shell resource to the tidal waters of the State to assist oyster propagation. The Department also may use the Fisheries Research and Development Fund to purchase oyster shell.