Md. Watermen Ask Lawmaker To Ease Crabbing Regs
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) -- Somerset County watermen are asking Delegate-elect Charles Otto to ease crabbing restrictions.
Five watermen met Saturday with Otto, pointing to results of last winter's dredge survey that showed a 60 percent increase in the population.
Deal Island waterman Danny Webster said that given the rebound watermen should be allowed to catch crabs that are a quarter-inch smaller all season. Currently, the limit is 5 inches from April 1 to July 15, when the minimum size increases to 5 1/4 inches.
Otto, who will serve on the Environmental Matters committee, is taking over the seat held by the late Delegate D. Page Elmore and has promised to look out for the interests of watermen.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
