Description: Dredging of a method of collecting shellfish via dragging a toothed, enclosed net behind a boat to gather up the shellfish from the sea floor. Its use is restricted to certain areas within the Chesapeake Bay.Appropriate scale for this data is between 1:10,000 and 1:1,000,000. The coordinates used to create this file are estimated to be accurate to 2 meters. For this reason, in some cases, there are slight overlaps with adjacent boundaries. This dataset was created for management purposes only. For the official boundaries, please consult the Annotated Code of Maryland. Printed or electronic media created with this data should bear the following disclaimer: "The lines shown are for oyster management purposes only. For the official boundary(ies) consult Maryland D.N.R.'s Hydrographic Operations Division."
Copyright Text: Data source/originator - Maryland COMAR
Data creator/publisher - Brett Greenfield, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Description: Patent Tongs are a type of gear used in oyster harvesting. The tongs are attached to a cable which is lowered into the water. As the tongs are lowered, they open, and then close again when the tongs are raised. It is an efficient method of oyster harvesting and is prohibited within certain waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
Copyright Text: Brett Greenfield, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries division