The board of selectmen of the town of Stonington may prohibit the taking of escallops from such portions of the waters of said town as they designate, for a period not exceeding one year at a time, and may designate the daily take of escallops from said waters not to exceed fifteen bushels per person or fifteen bushels per boat if more than one person is carried on such boat. When said selectmen designate any place or places in said waters from which such taking is prohibited, they shall cause to be published, at least twice in a newspaper having a circulation in said town and at least ten days before such prohibition takes effect, a notice describing the place or places upon which and the period for which such prohibition is to be operative and shall post copies of such notices, signed by said selectmen, upon the shores adjacent to such places. No person shall, at any time, take escallops from said waters without having first obtained a permit issued by the selectmen or any persons designated by them. Permits shall be issued for the taking of any amount up to the daily limit upon application and the payment of a fee per bushel established by the selectmen but not more than six dollars and shall be dated as of the day of issue or such other day during the open season as the applicant may designate. Permits shall be valid only for the day designated thereon. A season permit shall be issued by the selectmen upon application and the payment of a fee established by the selectmen but not more than sixty dollars and shall allow the taking of the daily limit for each day of the open season. The selectmen shall designate special officers for the enforcement of this section, who shall receive compensation on a per diem basis. All moneys collected under the provisions of this section shall be used by the selectmen for the protection, conservation and propagation of escallops and other shellfish in the town waters. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars and the court may order that a permit shall not be issued to such person to take escallops in the waters of the town of Stonington for the remainder of the open season.
(1951, 1953, S. 2563d; 1967, P.A. 74; P.A. 88-291, S. 5, 6; P.A. 12-80, S. 45.)
History: 1967 act replaced previous fee of $0.15 per bushel with a fee to be established by selectmen but not to exceed $0.50 per bushel; P.A. 88-291 changed the maximum fee per bushel from $0.50 to $6 and changed the fee for a season permit from $10 to a “fee established by the selectmen” but not more than $60; P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both with a fine of not more than $250.