reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 130 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 44 - Sale or Possession of Short Lobsters; Mutilation of Short Lobsters; Prima Facie Evidence

Section 44. Whoever sells, or offers for sale, or has in possession for a period longer than is necessary for immediate measuring, or for any purpose other than legally disposing of same, a lobster measuring in length less than the minimum size prescribed by this section, alive or dead, cooked or uncooked, measured from the rear of the eye socket along a line parallel to the center line of the body shell to the rear end of the body shell, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars for every such lobster and for a subsequent offense by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars for every such lobster or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than three months or both, and such lobster shall be seized and forfeited, and shall be disposed of by the director to the best interest of the commonwealth.  Beginning on January 1, 1989, the minimum size shall be 31/4 inches. Thereafter, the director may, by regulation approved by the marine fisheries advisory commission, increase the minimum size, and may establish different minimum sizes in separate geographic areas, if he determines that such increases are necessary to achieve compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fisheries Management Plan for American lobster.  If the measurement of any such lobster taken from 1 or the other eye sockets is of the required length, such lobster shall be deemed to be a legal lobster. In all prosecutions under this section, any mutilation of any lobster which affects its measurement as aforesaid shall be prima facie evidence that the lobster was or is less than the required length; provided, however, that the director shall, by regulation approved by the marine fisheries advisory commission, allow the onshore processing in the commonwealth of live lobsters of legal length into shell-on lobster parts and the importation of shell-on lobster parts for processing by wholesale dealers that are licensed by the department of public health under section 77G of chapter 94. Processed shell-on lobster parts may be possessed, sold or offered for sale in the commonwealth by any wholesale dealer, retail dealer or food establishments and such food product may be possessed by a consumer. The processing, possession or sale of shell-on lobster tails pursuant to this section shall be limited to shell-on lobster tails weighing 3 ounces or more. The packaging of processed shell-on lobster parts, including tails, pursuant to this section as a food product shall be labeled in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. This section shall not apply to common carriers having lobster in possession for the purpose of transportation.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 44a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 44a - V&ndash;notched Lobster

Section 44A. The director may, by regulation approved by the marine fisheries advisory commission and promulgated pursuant to chapter thirty A, establish a program to protect V–notched lobsters. For purposes of this section, the term ''V–notched lobster'' means a female egg-bearing lobster from which a V–shaped piece of tail has been cut from the first right flipper next to the middle flipper by a person holding or covered by a permit issued pursuant to section thirty-eight.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 44b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 44b - Limits on Sales of Lobsters Taken by Methods Other Than Pots or Traps

Section 44B. No commercial fishing vessel landing lobsters taken by any method other than by pots or traps shall land for the purpose of sale or distribution any lobsters or any part thereof at any location within the jurisdiction of the commonwealth in excess of one hundred lobsters for a fishing trip of one twenty-four hour day or less duration, with a maximum limit of five hundred lobsters within a period of seven consecutive days. The director, with approval of the marine fisheries advisory commission, shall promulgate rules to implement this section within ninety days of its effective date.  The director shall monitor the performance of vessels taking and landing lobsters in the commonwealth taken by other than pots and traps. If landings by vessels landing lobsters taken by other than by pots or traps exceed six percent of total lobster landings in any year, the director shall implement regulations, subject to the approval of said marine fisheries advisory commission, to limit lobster landings in subsequent years by vessels using other than pots or traps to no more than six percent of total lobster landings in the commonwealth.  The provisions of this section governing the landing of lobsters by vessels fishing with other than pots or traps, shall be superseded by the development or implementation subsequent to the effective date of this act of either a federal or interstate fishery management plan governing the taking or landing of lobsters under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 47 - Marking Barrels, Boxes or Containers of Lobsters or Lobster Meat

Section 47. All barrels, boxes or other containers containing lobsters, or lobster meat after the same has been taken from the shell, shall, before being delivered to any carrier, be marked by the shipper in a plain and legible manner on the outside thereof ''Lobsters'' or ''Lobster Meat'', as the case may be, in capital letters at least one inch in length, together with the full name and address of the shipper, and, in the case of such lobster meat, also with the words, ''removed under permit No. '', followed by the number of the permit under which the same was taken from the shell; and, unless in barrels, boxes or other containers so marked, no lobster or lobster meat shall be transported. Any such barrels, boxes or other containers delivered to or transported by any carrier without being marked as above required, and the lobsters or lobster meat therein, shall be seized and forfeited. This section and section forty-nine shall not apply to lobsters or lobster meat passing through the commonwealth under authority of the laws of the United States.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 48 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 48 - Disposal of Lobsters or Lobster Meat Seized in Unmarked Containers

Section 48. In case of seizure by any duly authorized officer of any lobsters or lobster meat contained in any barrel, box or other container which is not marked as provided in section forty-seven, or of any lobster measuring less than the length prescribed by section forty-four, such lobsters as are alive and measure less than such prescribed length shall be liberated by the director, and all other such lobsters and all such lobster meat found in such barrel, box or other container shall be held and disposed of as provided in section fifty.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 49 - Liability of Carrier of Unmarked Containers of Lobsters or Lobster Meat

Section 49. No carrier shall knowingly receive or carry from place to place any lobster or lobster meat in barrels, boxes or other containers not marked as provided in section 47.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 50 - Forfeiture or Liberation of Seized Lobsters or Lobster Meat

Section 50. When any lobster or lobster meat is seized for the violation of any provision of section forty-seven, the officer making the seizure shall immediately notify the shipper thereof, if known, and shall proceed to enforce the forfeiture of such lobsters as he is not required to liberate, or of such lobster meat, in accordance with section twelve.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 51 - Sale of Native Lobsters; Representations for Purposes of Sale

Section 51. No person shall sell, or represent for the purpose of sale, any lobster as a native lobster unless the same shall have been originally caught or taken in the coastal waters; nor shall any person so sell, or represent for the purpose of sale, any crustacean as a lobster unless the same is of the species known as Homarus americanus; nor shall any person so sell, or represent for the purpose of sale, any meat as lobster meat unless such meat is wholly from crustaceans of such species.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 51a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 51a - Sale of Crabmeat; Representations for Purposes of Sale

Section 51A. No retail establishment or person shall sell or represent for the purpose of sale, any item as crabmeat unless the same is from crustaceans of any species of crab, so-called. A retail establishment or person selling a product which contains crabmeat in any proportion shall list separately the names and percentages of all noncrabmeat substances contained therein.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 53 - Form of Permits; Record of Issuance

Section 53. All permits issued under section fifty-two shall be issued in the name of the body authorizing the issuing of the same; but, under a vote of such body, any such permit shall be valid if issued bearing the signature of any one member thereof, or of the city or town clerk. A record of the name, residence and address of every person to whom such a permit is issued, with any special details relating to such permit, shall be entered by the officer issuing the same in a book kept in his office for that purpose.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 54 - Cultivation, Propagation and Protection of Shellfish; Appropriations by Cities and Towns; Close Seasons

Section 54. Cities by a vote of the board of aldermen, or city council, and towns by a vote at a town meeting, may appropriate money for the cultivation, propagation and protection of shellfish. The board of aldermen, or city council, or selectmen when so authorized by their town may from time to time declare a close season for any or all kinds of shellfish for not more than three years in such waters, flats or creeks, not then the subject of a private grant, within the limits of their respective cities and towns, as they deem proper, and may plant, grow and protect shellfish in such waters, flats or creeks; provided, that no private rights are impaired; and provided, further, that when any close season, declared as aforesaid, shall have ended, such flats, waters or creeks shall not within two years thereafter be licensed for the private cultivation of shellfish.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 55 - Aliens; Shellfish Taken for Commercial Purposes; Permits

Section 55. No permit for the taking of shellfish for commercial purposes, except in the city of New Bedford, shall be issued by the aldermen or councilmen of any city or the selectmen of any town to an alien unless he has resided in such city or town for at least five years next preceding the date of his application therefor, or has been a resident of the county in which such city or town lies for at least five years next preceding the date of such application and has taken shellfish commercially therefrom for such period.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 56 - Joint Control by Municipalities of Marine Fisheries

Section 56. Whenever under the authority of any law two or more municipalities have joint property in, or the right of joint control of, any marine fisheries referred to in section fifty-two, the board of aldermen or city council of the city, or the selectmen of the town if so authorized by the town, in which such fisheries lie may exclusively exercise all the rights, privileges and authority conferred by said section with respect to such fisheries, make appropriations therefor as provided in section fifty-four and exercise such other control, privileges and responsibilities as are granted in other sections of this chapter pertinent thereto, as though such joint control or property did not exist; provided that in the exercise of such rights, privileges, responsibilities and authority such board of aldermen, city council or selectmen shall grant to the citizens of such other municipalities the same rights and privileges as are granted to the citizens of their city or town.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 58 - Transfer or Renewal of Licenses

Section 58. Any license granted under section fifty-seven or corresponding provisions of earlier laws may be transferred with the approval of the city council or selectmen to any person to whom it might originally have been granted, and, whether or not so transferred, may, within two years before the expiration of its then current term, be renewed from the expiration of the original term for a further term or terms, each term not to exceed fifteen years. The provisions of this chapter or of corresponding provisions of earlier laws applicable to the original issuance of such license shall, so far as apt, apply to a transfer or a renewal thereof hereunder.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 59 - Application for License; Request for Survey and Plan

Section 59. Any person, firm or corporation qualified as provided in section fifty-seven and desiring to obtain a license thereunder shall present to the city council or selectmen a written application setting forth the name and residence of the applicant, a definite description made by reference to a survey conducted by the applicant, and a request that such license be granted to the applicant.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 60 - Hearing on Issuance of License; Notice; Publication

Section 60. No license referred to in section fifty-seven shall be granted, transferred or renewed until after a public hearing, due notice of which has been posted in three or more public places, and published in a newspaper, if any, published in the city or town where the territory described in the application is situated at least ten days before the time fixed for the hearing, stating the name and residence of the applicant or transferee, as the case may be, the date of the filing of the application for such license, transfer or renewal, and the location, area and description of said territory.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 61 - Marking of Territory Covered by License; Maintenance of Markings

Section 61. The licensee upon receiving his license shall cause the territory covered thereby to be plainly marked out by monuments, marks or ranges and by stakes or buoys, with the number of his license painted in figures at least two inches in height in a conspicuous place on each of said stakes or buoys or on flags attached thereto, which shall be maintained by him or his transferee during the term of the license or of any renewal thereof. Failure to place or reasonably to maintain the same shall be sufficient cause for revocation of the license.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 62 - Records of Licensed Areas, Licenses Granted, Transfers and Renewals

Section 62. The aldermen, city council or selectmen shall keep in their offices plans showing all such licensed areas, and, in a book devoted to that purpose only, a record of each license granted and of all transfers or renewals thereof, which shall include the name and residence of the licensee or transferee, the dates of issue, transfer, renewal and expiration thereof, and a copy of the description of the licensed areas as the same appears in the license. Each license, and all transfers or renewals thereof, shall forthwith after the granting or approval thereof be transmitted by the board so granting or approving the same to the city or town clerk, who shall record the same in a book kept especially therefor in his office. The licensee or transferee shall within thirty days after such issue or approval pay to said clerk for each license or renewal issued or transfer approved one dollar for such recording, and for each license issued shall also pay four dollars as reimbursement of said city or town for the cost incurred in granting said license, a record of which payment shall forthwith be entered upon said record by said clerk, and such license, transfer or renewal shall not take effect until said fees are paid and entry thereof made as aforesaid. Said records shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. Forms for such license and for the transfer or renewal of the same shall be provided by the aldermen, city council or selectmen at the expense of their city or town.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 63 - Exclusive Rights of Licensees or Transferees; Trespass on Licensed Area; Treble Damages

Section 63. The licensee or transferee, or his legal representatives, shall, for the purposes set forth in section fifty-seven and in accord with the terms set forth in said license, have during the term of the license or of any renewal thereof the exclusive use of the waters, flats or creeks described in the license, and the exclusive right to take all shellfish therefrom during the time therein specified, notwithstanding any regulations made by the aldermen, city council or selectmen of the city or town, subsequent to the issuance of such license or to the renewal thereof, as the case may be; provided, that this section shall not be construed to authorize any taking prohibited by law. The licensee or transferee, or his legal representatives, may in tort recover treble damages of any person who without his or their consent, unless otherwise authorized by law or by lawful regulation so to do, digs or takes shellfish of any kind, or shells, from such waters, flats or creeks, or disturbs the same thereon, during the continuance of the license or of any renewal thereof.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 64 - Annual Fee for License

Section 64. Every such licensee or transferee shall pay to the city or town, on or before a date to be fixed by the aldermen, city council or selectmen, an annual fee of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars per acre, or part thereof. If any such fee is not paid within six months after it becomes due the license shall thereupon be forfeited.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 65 - Annual Report of Shellfish Planted, Produced and Marketed; Estimate of Growing Shellfish; Forfeiture for Deficiency

Section 65. Every licensee or transferee of a license referred to in section fifty-seven shall submit on oath on or before February 28 in each year to the director and to the city council or selectmen of the city or town wherein the licensed area is situated a report of the total number of each kind of shellfish planted, produced or marketed during the preceding year upon or from such licensed area, and an estimate of the total number of each kind of shellfish at the time of such report planted or growing thereon. The city council or selectmen may specify a reasonable yearly market value to be produced by each shellfish project licensed pursuant to section fifty-seven. Failure of the licensed shellfish project to meet such a value for any three consecutive years thereafter may result in a forfeit of the shellfish aquaculture license and licensed area.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 66 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 66 - Destruction or Removal of Marks or Bounds; Double Damages

Section 66. No person shall willfully injure, deface, destroy or remove any mark or bound used to define the extent of any shellfish license or grant, or place any unauthorized mark thereon, or tie or fasten any boat or vessel thereto. Any person who violates this section shall be liable in tort for double damages and costs to the licensee or transferee injured by the violation.
MA Gen L ch 130 § 67 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation|Chapter 130 - Marine Fish and Fisheries|Section 67 - Taking or Disturbing Shellfish From Licensed Grounds or Beds Without Consent

Section 67. No person shall, without the consent of the licensee or transferee, as the case may be: (i) work a dredge, oyster tongs, rake or other implement for the taking of shellfish of any description upon any shellfish grounds or beds covered by a license granted under section 57 or any corresponding provision of earlier law; (ii) in any way, disturb the growth of the shellfish thereon; (iii) discharge any substance which may directly or indirectly injure the shellfish upon any such grounds or beds; or (iv) while upon or sailing over any such grounds or beds, cast, haul, or have overboard any such dredge, tongs, rake or other implement for the taking of shellfish of any description, under any pretense or for any purpose.