| | Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become | effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as | emergencies; and |
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| | Whereas, certain federal requirements mandate a change in the | lobster trap escape vent in the spring of 1999; and |
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| | Whereas, this legislation should coincide with those federal | changes; and |
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| | Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create | an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and | require the following legislation as immediately necessary for | the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, | therefore, |
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| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6433, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1987, c. 217, is | further amended to read: |
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| | 1. Vent required. It shall be is unlawful to fish for or to | take lobsters unless the lobster trap is equipped with | unobstructed vents or gaps in the parlor section which are as | follows: |
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| A. A rectangular or oblong escape vent not less than 1 3/4 | inches (44.5 mm.) by 5.75 inches (146 mm.) located next to | the bottom edge or on the top if the escape vent is placed | over the head of the parlor section; |
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| B. Two circular escape vents not less than 2 1/4 inches | (57.2 mm.) in diameter located next to the bottom edge; |
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| C. A gap caused by raising, modifying or separating | horizontal laths to comply with paragraph A or B; |
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| D. A gap caused by separating or modifying vertical laths | to comply with paragraph A; |
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| E. A gap caused by separating both ends of 2 laths 1 3/4 | inches (44.5 mm.) on the top of the parlor section next to | the middle bow or supporting frame and over the parlor head; | or |
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| F. In a wire or plastic trap, by a gap created by cutting | vents in the side or end to comply with paragraph A or B. |
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| | Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, | this Act takes effect when approved. |
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