Section 250-RICR-90-00-4.6 - Equipment Provisions and Harvest MethodsA. SCUBA prohibition: The taking of shellfish by the use of a Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) from Green Hill Pond, Quonochontaug Pond, Ninigret Pond, and Potter Pond is prohibited.B. The use of a diving apparatus is prohibited while recreational shoredigging.C. Use of devices capable of harvesting shellfish while in polluted areas: No person shall work, cast, haul, or have overboard a dredge, pair of tongs, rake or rakes, air-assisted equipment, water-assisted equipment, or any other implement capable of harvesting shellfish, except for the taking of whelk in pots and the use of an implement commonly employed for the taking of bay scallops (within established bay scallop harvest seasons), in waters declared polluted by the Director.D. Power hauling of tongs and bullrakes: Power hauling of tongs and bullrakes for any purpose other than the removal and retrieval of bullrakes and tongs from the benthic sediments is prohibited.E. Dimensions for bullrakes and tongs when using power hauling equipment: No person shall use any power hauling equipment in the operation of bullrakes and tongs with dimensions exceeding the following:1. Maximum width measured along a line parallel to the tooth bar: Thirty-one and one half inches (31 1/2").2. Maximum tooth length: Four and one half inches (4 1/2").3. Maximum basket depth: Twelve inches (12"), measured along a line perpendicular to the tooth bar and extending from the tooth bar to any point on the basket.4. Possession of bullrakes and tongs in excess of these size restrictions shall be prohibited aboard vessels equipped with any power hauling equipment.5. Except as required for safety or to avoid property loss, no vessel involved in the harvest of bay quahogs or oysters by use of bullrakes or tongs may be moved or propelled by any source of mechanical power at any time when any bullrakes or tongs operated from such vessel are submerged in the waters of the state.F. Tong construction: No person shall take shellfish, or attempt to take shellfish, or have in his possession while on the waters of this State, with tongs not meeting the following dimensions: 1. Minimum tooth gap: Not less than one inch (1") apart.2. Heads: Heads on the bar or heads constructed with wires, rods, cross-bars, or reinforcement that will form a rectangle shall not be less than one inch (1") by two and one half inches (2 1/2").3. A tolerance of one sixteenth of an inch (1/16") is allowed.G. Bullrake construction: No person shall take shellfish, or attempt to take shellfish, or have in his possession while on the waters of this State, with a bullrake not meeting the following dimensions:1. Minimum tooth or tine gap: Not less than one inch (1") apart.2. Crossbars or reinforcement that will form a rectangle shall not be less than one inch (1") by two and one half inches (2 1/2").3. A tolerance of one sixteenth of an inch (1/16") is allowed.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-4.6
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