reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 25a - Quarantine of Diseased Fish, Birds, Mammals, etc.; Order or Notice; Procedures; Liability for Expenses

Section 25A. If the director, upon examination of any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian held in possession either by persons licensed or required to be licensed under the provisions of section twenty-three, except dealers licensed both under clause (4) of section twenty-three and section thirty-nine A of chapter one hundred and twenty-nine, or persons exempted from being licensed in accordance with the provisions of sections four, twenty-three and twenty-nine, suspects, or has reason to believe, that such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian is afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease or parasite, he may immediately cause it to be quarantined or isolated for a period of at least ten days upon the premises of the owner or of the person in whose charge it is found or in such other place as he may designate, and he shall take such other sanitary measures as may be necessary to prevent the spread of such disease or parasite. He shall also deliver to the owner or person in charge of such fish, bird, mammal, reptile, or amphibian, or to any person having an interest therein, a written order or notice of quarantine signed by him and in such form as the director shall prescribe. Such order or notice of quarantine shall set forth conditions for which any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian shall be quarantined, including but not limited to restrictions on maintenance, propagation, cultivation, sale or transportation thereof.
Such order or notice of quarantine shall be served by the director or his appointed designee, by delivery in hand to, or leaving at the last and usual place of abode of, the owner or person having an interest in or in charge of the fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian concerned, or by posting upon the premises where said fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian is quarantined or isolated. A copy thereof, with the attestation of said director or his appointed designee thereon that such service has been made, shall be competent evidence in any court that such quarantine has been imposed. If any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian has been so quarantined, it shall remain in quarantine until the further order of the director.
If any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian has been quarantined or isolated upon the premises of the owner or of the person in possession of them at the time such quarantine is imposed, the expense thereof shall be paid by such owner or person and the commonwealth shall not be liable for expenses incurred, nor for cancellation of orders or losses of income or any other losses attributable to the effects of the quarantine.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 25b - Quarantined Animals; Destruction and Disposal

Section 25B. If the director, by examination of a case of contagious or infectious disease or parasite of any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian, has imposed a quarantine as provided in section twenty-five A, and is of the opinion that the public good so requires or that the protection of the fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian resources of the commonwealth is necessary or that the interest of other propagators are jeopardized, he may cause such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian to be destroyed without liability. An order for destroying shall be issued in writing by the director, shall be directed to the owner or to any person having an interest therein or to the person in charge of such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian and shall contain such direction as to the examination and disposal of the carcass and the cleansing and disinfection of the premises where such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian was condemned as the director considers expedient. Destruction and disposal of any such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian shall be in a manner as determined by the director and shall be conducted under the direct supervision of the director or his appointed designee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 25c - Quarantined Animals; Prohibited Acts; Penalties

Section 25C. Any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian which has been quarantined or isolated by order or notice of the director as authorized by section twenty-five A, shall, during the continuance of such quarantine or isolation, be deemed to be afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease or parasite. Whoever knowingly breaks or authorizes or causes to be broken a quarantine so imposed or whoever, contrary to such order or notice of quarantine or isolation, knowingly removes any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian or authorizes or causes it to be removed from a building, place or enclosure where it is quarantined or isolated, or whoever, contrary to an order or notice of quarantine, knowingly places or causes or authorizes to be placed any other fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian within a building, place or enclosure, where any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian is quarantined, or in contact therewith, or whoever knowingly conceals, sells, removes or transports, or knowingly causes or authorizes to be concealed, sold, removed or transported, any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease or parasite, or whoever knowingly authorizes or permits such fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian to go at large or be released to the wilds within the commonwealth, or whoever knowingly brings or authorizes or permits to be brought from another country, state, district or territory into the commonwealth, any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian which is afflicted with or has been exposed to a contagious or infectious disease or parasite, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 26 - Importation of Fish, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles or Amphibians; Shipments; Tags; Violations; Seizure and Disposition

Section 26. Any fish, birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians lawfully taken or lawfully propagated without the commonwealth may be purchased by any dealer licensed under section twenty-three; provided, that the export and sale is lawful in the state, province or country in which said fish, birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians are taken or from which they are exported, as the case may be, and the import of any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian lawfully taken or lawfully propagated without the commonwealth is not in violation of sections nineteen and nineteen A or any rule or regulation made under the authority thereof; and provided further, that all shipments shall bear the name of the consignee, the name of the consignor and, if enclosed, a statement of the contents contained therein, the tag, license or permit number as the case may be, or to the carton, package, box, or crate in which such are shipped, transported or delivered to any point within the commonwealth, is attached whatever mark of identification is required by the state, province or country from which such carcasses or parts thereof are so shipped, transported or delivered; and provided further, that such sale, transportation or export is not contrary to federal legislation or regulation. The burden of proof that skins of mammals and reptiles subject to this section were lawfully taken shall be upon the person possessing the same.
Every dealer purchasing or dealing in any birds or mammals subject to this section shall, before offering the same for sale, attach to the body of each bird or mammal or part thereof a numbered tag as provided in section twenty-five. Every dealer purchasing or dealing in any fish subject to this section shall, before offering the same for sale, attach to each container thereof such identification mark as the director may prescribe by rule or regulation which he is hereby authorized to make. Any tags required hereunder for fish shall be furnished by the director at cost.
Any fish, bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian possessed, shipped, transported or delivered in violation of this section or of any rule or regulation made under the authority thereof may be seized and shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement for the best interest of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 29 - Natural History Associations and Museums, Zoos

Section 29. Sections nineteen, nineteen A and twenty-two to twenty-eight, inclusive, shall not apply to those zoos approved by the United States department of agriculture. Natural history associations and museums, or zoos not approved by the United States department of agriculture which are operated by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof may, at the discretion of the director, be exempt from the provisions of said sections. Sections twenty-four to twenty-eight, inclusive, shall not apply to persons holding authorization from the director under clause (2) of section four.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed so as to permit such zoos, natural history associations or museums to transfer any fish, fish spawn, birds, the nest or eggs thereof or mammals protected by this chapter to any person by means of sale, exchange, barter, gift, donation or otherwise unless so authorized in writing by the director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 30 - Permits for Netting of Carp and Suckers

Section 30. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty or of any other provision of this chapter, the director may issue permits upon the receipt of a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof, for the netting of carp and the species of fish commonly known as suckers for the purpose of sale, and shall, subject to the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, make such rules and regulations governing the size and type of nets, method and place of taking, as he may deem necessary or expedient.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 31 - Commercial Shooting Preserves; Permits; Licenses

Section 31. The director is authorized to issue permits for the operation of commercial shooting preserves. Any person desiring to operate a commercial shooting preserve shall make application therefor on forms to be furnished by the director. The director may, upon receipt of a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration and finance under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven of the General Laws, issue to such applicant a commercial shooting preserve permit. A commercial shooting preserve shall consist of a single parcel of land containing not less than one hundred acres nor more than five hundred acres. A permit to operate a commercial shooting preserve shall, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, entitle the holder and his guests to kill and take on such preserve, by shooting or falconry only, such native or non-native game birds as shall be determined by the director. Every person hunting on such commercial shooting preserve or participating in a shoot held on a commercial shooting preserve permit shall possess a valid resident or nonresident hunting or sporting license or a resident or nonresident commercial shooting preserve license, good only on commercial shooting preserves; provided, however, that a person purchasing a resident or nonresident commercial shooting preserve license shall be exempt from the provisions of section fourteen; provided, further, that such exemption shall be applicable only to one who purchases a resident or nonresident commercial shooting preserve on no more than four separate occasions in any calendar year. Tags and posters, if used, shall be supplied by the director at a cost to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration and finance under the provision of said section three B of said chapter seven. The director may, with the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, establish rules and regulations relating to commercial shooting preserves including but not limited to species of game birds hunted, liberation requirements, posting, period of operation, record keeping and classes of preserves, and may in like manner alter, amend, or repeal the same. Any permit issued under this section may be revoked by the director for violation of any provision of this section or any rule or regulation established hereunder.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 32 - Licenses; Expiration; Loan or Transfer; Production for Examination; Suspension or Revocation

Section 32. Unless otherwise specified, all licenses, permits and certificates issued under any provision of this chapter shall expire at twelve midnight on December thirty-first next succeeding the effective date of such license, permit or certificate. Such licenses, permits and certificates shall not be loaned or transferred. Such licenses, permits or certificates shall be produced for examination upon the demand of the director of law enforcement, deputy directors of enforcement, chiefs of enforcement, deputy chiefs of enforcement, environmental police officers, deputy environmental police officers, deputies, wardens, or other officers qualified to serve criminal process, the director of fisheries and wildlife and his agents, or the owner or lessee of land upon which the privileges of the license, permit or certificate are being exercised. A person shall not falsely make any representation or statement for the purpose of procuring any such license, permit or certificate for himself or another. All licenses, permits or certificates issued under any provision of this chapter, except hunting, fishing, sporting or trapping licenses, may, after a hearing, due notice of which shall have been given, be suspended or revoked for cause by the director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 33 - Prohibited Acts; Licenses, Permits, Applications, Certificates, Tags or Seals

Section 33. A person shall not alter, forge or counterfeit any license, permit, permit application, certificate, tag or seal issued under any provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation made under authority thereof, nor possess or use any such altered, forged or counterfeited license, permit, permit application, certificate, tag or seal, nor procure or attempt to procure a license, permit, permit application, certificate, tag or seal by fraud or false statements of any kind, nor use or attempt to use any license, permit, permit application, certificate, tag or seal of another, nor loan or allow another person to use his license, permit, permit application, certificate, tag or seal.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 34 - Conviction for Violations; Surrender of License, Permit or Certificate

Section 34. A license, permit or certificate issued pursuant to this chapter, except a license issued under clause (3), (4) or (6) of the seventh paragraph of section 23, and held by a person found guilty of, convicted of, assessed in any manner after a plea of nolo contendere or penalized for a violation of an order issued pursuant to clause (15) of section 4 or for a violation of section 5, 10, 11 to 13, inclusive, 16, 32, 33, 54, 57, 58, 61 to 65, inclusive, 66 to 68, inclusive, 70, 72, 73, 75, 80 or 85, or a rule or regulation made pursuant thereto, shall be void and shall be immediately surrendered to an officer authorized to enforce this chapter. No such person or person acting on such person's behalf shall make application for or be issued a license, permit or certificate that was voided due to:
(i) a violation of an order issued pursuant to said clause (15) of said section 4 or said section 12, 13, 16, 33, 54, 57, 58, 61, 63, 64, 66, 67, 70, 72 or 80, for 1 year from the date that person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation;
(ii) a first violation of said section 5, 10, 11, 32, 62, 65, 68, 73, 75 or 85, for not less than 1 year but not more than 3 years from the date on which the person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation;
(iii) a second violation of said section 5, 11, 32, 62, 65, 68, 73, 75 or 85, for not less than 3 years but not more than 10 years from the date on which the person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation;
(iv) a second violation of said section 10, for not less than 3 years but not more than 5 years from the date on which the person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation;
(v) a third or subsequent violation of said section 5, 11, 32, 62, 65, 68, 73, 75 or 85, for not less than 10 years from the date on which the person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation; or
(vi) a third or subsequent violation of said section 10, for not less than 5 years but not more than 10 years from the date on which the person was found guilty of or penalized for the violation.
A license, permit or certificate issued in violation of this section shall be void and shall be immediately surrendered to an officer authorized to enforce this chapter.
No fee received for a license, permit or certificate that has become void for a violation of this section shall be refunded to the holder thereof.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 35 - Failure to Carry License and Wear It Visibly; Exception Under Automated Licensing System

Section 35. The provisions of section thirty-four, except as hereinafter provided, shall not apply to any holder of a sporting, hunting, fishing or trapping license who violates section twelve in that he fails to carry such license on his person and wear it in a visible manner on his outer clothing while fishing, hunting or trapping; provided, that he furnishes definite proof to the person demanding production of his license for inspection, as authorized in section thirty-two, that he is the holder of a valid license. In the event that the holder of such license fails to carry it on his person and wear it in a visible manner, he shall for his first offence be reported to the director of law enforcement; upon his second such offence, his license shall be surrendered and shall be suspended for a period of thirty days from the date of the notice of his second offence, after which it will be returned to him by said director; and upon a subsequent offence his license shall be subject to the provisions of section thirty-four. A person shall surrender such license on demand of any officer empowered to enforce this chapter.
The provisions of this section which relate to the wearing of a license shall be in effect until such time as the division of fisheries and wildlife has instituted an automated licensing system for hunting, fishing, sporting and trapping licenses.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 36 - Fishing, Hunting, or Trapping on Private, Posted Land

Section 36. A person shall not fish, hunt or trap on private land without permission of the owner or tenant thereof, after such owner or tenant has conspicuously posted thereon notices which bear the name of such owner or tenant and which state that fishing, hunting or trapping on such land, as the case may be, is prohibited.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 37 - Killing of Game by Owner or Tenant of Land; Reports

Section 37. An owner or tenant of land or, if authorized by such owner or tenant, any member of his immediate family or his employee, as defined pursuant to section one of chapter sixty-two B, may, upon such land:—
(1) kill or attempt to kill, by means other than poisoning or trapping, any wild bird damaging his property, including domesticated animals, poultry and game on game-rearing farms or preserves, provided that such killing is not contrary to any federal law, rule or regulation.
(2) hunt or take by other means, except by poison or snare, any mammal which he finds damaging his property except grass growing on uncultivated land. No such owner or tenant shall authorize any person, other than a member of his immediate family or a person permanently employed by him, to place traps for the protection of said property other than during the open season, unless such owner or tenant has first obtained from the director a permit authorizing him so to do, which permit the director is hereby authorized to issue in his discretion, unless such authorized person holds a trapping license. All deer so killed shall be turned over to any environmental police officer and shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement.
The following written reports shall be sent to the director by such owner or tenant acting under authority of this section:—(a) upon the taking of pheasant, ruffed grouse, hares or rabbits, or the wounding or killing of a deer, a report stating the time and place, kind and number of birds or mammals so taken, wounded or killed, within twenty-four hours of such taking, wounding or killing; (b) upon the taking of any other birds or mammals, a report on or before January thirty-first of each year, stating the number and kinds of birds or mammals taken under authority of this section during the previous year. This section shall not be construed to limit any other provisions of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 38 - Farmers; Permit to Trap and Kill Birds

Section 38. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the director may, upon application of a farmer, as defined in section one A of chapter one hundred and twenty-eight, grant a permit to trap live, and thereafter destroy, birds that are destroying agricultural crops or endangering the health of livestock, poultry or fur bearing animals. Each applicant shall state the type of trap to be used, the location of each such trap and the period within which he intends to use such trap, and such other information as the director may deem necessary. Each application shall be accompanied by a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof. The farmer shall mark each trap with his name and address and the number of the permit issued to him by the director, and the farmer or his agent shall check each such trap twice daily. The director shall issue rules and regulations relative to the type of traps and kinds of birds which may be trapped, and such other rules and regulations as he may deem necessary for the protection of song and game birds. The director and his agents may, for the purpose of inspecting such traps, enter upon or pass through or over private lands and property whether or not covered by water.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 40b - Farmland Advisory Board; Meetings; Advisory Duties

Section 40B. The farmland advisory board established in section forty shall meet quarterly and at the call of the commissioner or upon written request of any two members. The board is charged with advising the commissioner relative to the definitions of ''normal maintenance or improvement of land in agricultural or aquacultural use'' and other issues relating to agriculture including but not limited to, consistency in federal and state statutes, rules and regulations pursuant to agricultural activities governed by section forty, and issues affecting agriculture pursuant to chapter twenty-one G. The farmland advisory board, in conjunction with the department, shall make an annual report to the committee on natural resources and agriculture as to their activities under this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 41 - Protection of Fisheries From Discharge of Waste Materials Into Inland Waters

Section 41. If the director determines that any fisheries in the inland waters of the commonwealth are of sufficient value to warrant the prohibition or regulation of the discharge of any waste or other material from any source, which may, directly or indirectly, injure such fisheries, he may thereupon give written notice of such determination to the director of the division of water pollution control, who shall take appropriate action under the provisions of sections twenty-six to fifty-three, inclusive, of chapter twenty-one.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 42 - Protection of Fish in Inland Waters; Pollution; Alteration of Flows or Water Levels; Application of Section; Damages

Section 42. A person shall not put, throw, discharge or permit to be discharged or to escape into any inland waters of the commonwealth any waste or other material, in violation of section forty or of any provisions of the Massachusetts Clean Water Act, which may directly or indirectly injure or kill the fish or fish spawn therein, nor shall a person alter or manipulate or permit to be altered or manipulated the flows or water levels in any inland waters of the commonwealth to the extent that directly or indirectly injures or kills the fish or fish spawn therein, except as provided in section forty-eight.
This section shall not apply to agents or persons authorized by the director to use any method or means for the sampling, eradication or management of fish and fish habitat in the waters of the commonwealth. This section shall not prohibit the use of explosives for engineering, construction, fish sampling and public welfare purposes providing the appropriate permit therefor has been given by United States, state or municipal government authorities. This section shall not apply to the providing of water for public water supply purposes.
Whoever, contrary to any provision of this section, except as otherwise provided in this chapter by himself or by his agent does or allows to be done any act that directly or indirectly injures or kills or causes damage to the fish or fish spawn in the inland waters of the commonwealth shall be liable in tort, in twice the amount of the damage thereby done, to the commonwealth through its division of fisheries and wildlife. The director shall establish the value of injured, killed or damaged fish or fish spawn employing current commercial values of fish. In determining the remuneration to the commonwealth for injured, killed or damaged fish or fish spawn the director may negotiate for the commonwealth a settlement of the amount of such remuneration direct with the offender. If such settlement cannot be negotiated to the satisfaction of the director, the superior court shall upon petition of the director establish the value of injured, killed or damaged fish or fish spawn, and shall require the offender to make remuneration to the commonwealth through its division of fisheries and wildlife, as required herein.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 43 - Poisons

Section 43. A person shall not place poison in any form whatsoever for the purpose of killing any mammal or bird except pursuant to a permit issued under the provisions of this section; provided, that this section shall not prohibit any person from placing in his orchard or in or near his dwelling house, barn or other buildings poison for the purpose of destroying rats, woodchucks or other pests of like nature, or from placing with like intent under the surface of his lands carbon disulphide in any of its forms or any other poison applied in a manner similar to that in which carbon disulphide is applied. The director is hereby authorized to make rules and regulations and, pursuant to the terms thereof, to issue permits to the owners or agents of forest plantations or orchards to place poison for the extermination of rats, mice and other pests of like nature therein and to employees of municipal, state and federal governments and to others found by the director to be qualified persons to place poison elsewhere, for the control of animals and birds, in connection with public health, wood tick suppression and control, propagation and protection of wild birds and mammals, and purposes of a similar nature, or to place poison within an area specified in such permit for the purpose of killing birds which may lawfully be killed under federal and state law and which are present in such area in such numbers as in the opinion of the director to constitute a public nuisance or endanger health or safety. Possession of the raw fur of any mammal or the dead body of any bird killed by poison, except rats, mice, woodchucks or other pests of like nature, shall be prima facie evidence that the person having such possession has violated this section unless he is an employee of the federal government or an employee of the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof to whom a permit has been issued under the provisions of this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 44 - Deposit of Garbage or Trash on Property While Hunting, Fishing or Trapping

Section 44. A person while engaged in hunting, fishing or trapping shall not deposit or cause to be deposited garbage, paper, refuse, bottles, cans, rubbish or trash of any kind or nature on any public or private property without permission of the owner, tenant or lessee of such property.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 45 - Great Ponds; Public Use; Rules and Regulations

Section 45. Except as otherwise provided in this section and elsewhere in this chapter, every great pond not actively being used as a source of water supply of any town, water supply or fire district or public institution, and not subject to the provisions of section one hundred and sixty of chapter one hundred and eleven, shall be public for the purpose of hunting or boating thereon and shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any special law relating to fisheries in any particular place, be open to all inhabitants of the commonwealth for fishing purposes; provided that any city or town in which the whole or any portion of any great pond not exceeding five hundred acres in extent is situated may, as to so much thereof, as is located within its boundaries, make and enforce rules and regulations relative to hunting, fishing and boating thereon. Any such rule and regulation relative to boating may include, on all or any portion of said pond, for all or any portion of the year, any of the following: a speed limit, a limit on engine horsepower, a prohibition of the use of internal combustion engines, a ban on water skiing and other high speed uses and a limitation of such uses to certain areas and certain times. Any such rules or regulations shall, to the extent that they authorize hunting or fishing or, both, be subject to the approval of the director, and to the extent that they authorize any other use thereof, be subject to the approval of the commissioner of environmental protection or to the extent that they impose restrictions upon the speed limit, a limitation on engine horsepower, a prohibition of the use of internal combustion engines, a ban on water skiing and other high speed uses, and a limitation of such uses to certain areas and certain times, be subject to the approval of the director of law enforcement. All persons shall be allowed reasonable means of access to such ponds for the purposes aforesaid.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section and section thirty-nine B of chapter ninety, any city or town in which is situated the whole or any portion of any great pond, as defined by section one, may, as to so much thereof which is located within its boundaries, make and enforce rules and regulations relative to the use and operation of aircraft equipped with floats or other means of transportation on water; provided, however, that such regulations, ordinances, or by-laws providing for such use and operation shall first be approved by the Massachusetts aeronautics division.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 46 - Measurement of Ponds

Section 46. The department of environmental protection shall, upon the request and at the expense of any person claiming to be interested in a pond, cause a measurement thereof to be made which shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of each city and town within the limits of which any part of such pond is situated; and no arm or branch shall be included as a part of such pond unless such arm or branch is at least fifty feet in width and normally one foot in depth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 47 - Riparian Proprietors; Enclosure of Waters

Section 47. No riparian proprietor of a natural pond other than a great pond, or of an artificial pond of any size, or of a nonnavigable stream, shall enclose the waters thereof within the limits of his own premises unless he furnishes a suitable passage for all anadromous fish naturally frequenting such waters to spawn; nor shall any riparian proprietor enclose the waters of any such pond or stream for the purpose of artificial propagation, cultivation and maintenance of fish, except shiners as authorized in section fifty-two, unless he first procures a propagator's license under section twenty-three authorizing him so to do.
A person, without the written consent of the proprietor or lessee of a natural pond which is not a great pond, or of an artificial pond of any size, or of a nonnavigable stream, where fish are lawfully propagated or maintained under authority of a license under this chapter, shall not take, or attempt to take, fish therefrom.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 48 - Draining of Pond, Reservoir or Other Body of Water

Section 48. A person shall not, except in case of emergency, drain any pond, reservoir or other body of water, except a body of water used for irrigation or insect control purposes, or for flooding cranberry bogs, or for public water supply, to an extent dangerous to fish life therein, unless such person, at least ten days prior to such draining, shall have notified in writing the director of his intention so to do and thereby enable the director to salvage the fish in such body of water prior to the draining thereof.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 49 - Ponds on State Boundary; Fishing

Section 49. If, in the case of a pond situated partly in the commonwealth and partly in another state, the laws of such other state permit fishing in that part thereof lying within such other state by persons licensed or otherwise entitled under the laws of the commonwealth to fish in that part of such pond lying within the commonwealth, persons licensed or otherwise entitled under the laws of such other state to fish in the part of such pond lying within such other state shall be permitted to fish in that part thereof lying within the commonwealth, and, as to such pond, the operation of the laws of the commonwealth relative to open and closed seasons, limits of catch, minimum sizes of fish caught and methods of fishing shall be suspended upon the adoption and during the continuance in force of rules and regulations relative to those subjects and affecting that part of such pond lying within the commonwealth, which rules and regulations the director is hereby authorized to make, and from time to time add to, alter and repeal. Before making, adding to, altering or repealing such rules and regulations, said director shall confer with the officer or board having like duties in such other state, in order to secure uniformity of laws, rules and regulations as to the whole of such pond, if practicable. Such rules and regulations shall be printed and available for distribution at the office of the director and of the clerk of each city and town in the commonwealth in which any part of such pond is situated or to which it lies adjacent.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 50 - Methods of Taking Fish; Angling, Nets and Seines, Pots, Spearing, Bow and Arrow

Section 50. A person shall not, except as otherwise permitted by law, take or attempt to take any fish in inland waters, in any other manner than by angling; but cities and towns may permit the use of nets and seines for taking herring and alewives, and may permit the use of pots for the taking of eels only in ponds having direct openings to the sea. This section shall not prohibit spearing or taking by use of bow and arrow eels, carp or the species of fish commonly known as suckers; provided, that no arrows shall be released within one hundred and fifty feet of any state or hard surfaced highway for the purpose of taking such fish. This section shall not apply to ponds or waters held under lease from the department.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 51 - Taking of Trout in Coastal Waters

Section 51. Brook, brown and rainbow trout may be taken in coastal waters of the commonwealth by angling only, subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under section five for taking such trout in rivers and streams.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 52 - Taking of Certain Fish for Bait

Section 52. Shiners, minnows, killifish, sculpin, sticklebacks, and suckers may be taken for bait, but not for the purpose of sale, in any of the inland waters of the commonwealth by means of a single fish trap with openings not over one inch or by a single circular or hoop net not exceeding six feet in diameter to each licensed fisherman or by means of a rectangular net, containing not more than thirty-six square feet of net surface; and shiners and suckers may be taken by resident licensed fishermen, for the purpose of sale as bait, in any of said waters, except great ponds and waters which in whole or in part are held under lease or license as public fishing grounds, by means of not more than ten fish traps with openings not over one inch or by means of a single circular or hoop net not exceeding six feet in diameter, or by means of a net containing not more than two hundred square feet of net surface if such person engaged in operating such fish trap or net is thereto authorized by a license issued by the director, which license the director is hereby authorized to issue upon receipt of a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof; provided, that any fish taken by any such net or trap, other than those permitted by this section to be taken thereby, are immediately returned, if alive, to the waters whence they were taken.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 52a - Commercial Taking of Eels in Inland Waters; Penalties

Section 52A. Eels may be taken commercially in inland waters except ponds having a diked opening to the sea by a licensed fisherman possessing a license to do so for the purpose of sale. The director of fisheries and wildlife is hereby authorized to establish rules and regulations relative to harvest, limit, method of taking, waters where eels may be taken, seasons, time and method of reporting harvest and all other matters pertaining thereto deemed necessary and expedient. The director may issue an annual license upon receipt of a fee of twenty-five dollars authorizing a person to take eels commercially in inland waters.
No person shall take for commercial purposes or attempt to take, with or by the use of an artificial lure, any fish of the species Anguilla rostrata, the North American eel. An artificial lure for the purposes of commercial harvesting of eels shall include but not be limited to, magnetic lures or devices, chemical attractants and tranquillizers, thermal lures, explosives and any other means not authorized under rules and regulations promulgated under the provisions of this section. The permitted commercial taking of eels in inland waters shall be allowed by a pot fishery as specified in rules and regulations promulgated under the provisions of this section.
The commercial taking of elvers, or eels less than 9 inches in length, shall not be permitted in inland waters of the commonwealth.
A violation of the first or second paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. A violation of the third paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 53 - Fishing With Floats; Toggle Fishing

Section 53. A person shall not fish with floats, otherwise known as toggle fishing, in any inland water of the commonwealth. For the purposes of this section, a ''float'' shall mean any device floating with a line and hook attached, baited with natural or artificial bait and not under the direct control of the hand of the person fishing.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 54 - Fish Traps, Nets and Seines, Hooks

Section 54. Except as otherwise permitted by law, a person shall not draw, set, stretch or use a fish trap, gill net, drag net, set net, purse net, seine or trawl, or set or use more than two hooks for fishing, or, in the case of ice fishing, five hooks, in any inland water, or aid in so doing. This section shall not affect any corporate rights of any fishing company. The possession, except as permitted by law, by any person in or upon inland waters or upon the banks of the same of any seine, net, trap, trawl or other device adapted for fishing for any species of fish shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 55 - Forfeiture of Net, Seine, or Other Device; Forfeiture of Fish

Section 55. Any net, seine, trawl, or other similar device used by any person in violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any rule or regulation made under authority thereof, and any fish taken in violation thereof, shall be forfeited to the commonwealth and disposed of by the director of law enforcement for the best interest of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 56 - Special Statutes Relating to Fisheries; Alewife Fisheries

Section 56. This chapter shall not be deemed to affect any provision or penalty contained, or any privilege granted, in any special statute relating to fisheries in any particular place, nor to any alewife fisheries under the provisions of sections ninety-four to ninety-seven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and thirty.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 57 - Sundays

Section 57. Every Sunday shall be a closed season. Except as otherwise provided in sections four, thirty-one and thirty-seven, a person, on Sunday, shall not hunt any bird or mammal or carry on that day on his person a rifle, shotgun or bow and arrow or, unless otherwise permitted by law, a pistol or revolver, in any place where birds or mammals might be found. This section shall not render unlawful the possession or carrying of a rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver or bow and arrow, for the purpose of using the same on a skeet, trap or target range, nor for the purpose of using the same for sport target shooting at artificial targets by an owner or lessee, or his guest, upon his own or leased property, or by members or guests of clubs or associations on supervised firing ranges, nor shall it prohibit the taking of mammals by means of traps, nor the training of falcons or protected species, nor the exercising of such falcons as regulated by the director.