4. Nets of certain sizes. It is unlawful for a person to immerse or leave immersed in the coastal waters of the State a fyke net, Sheldon eel trap or hand dip net fitted with netting that measures 1/8 inch bar mesh or less from midnight of June 15th to noon of March 15th of the following year.

Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §6575-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 575, §3, is further amended to read:

§6575-A. Closed period; elver harvesting

It is unlawful for a person to fish for or take elvers from noon Friday to noon Sunday. A person may leave an elver fyke net or a Sheldon eel trap in the coastal waters of the State during the closed period if the net or trap is left in a condition that prevents the capture of elvers.

Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §6575-B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 575, §4, is further amended to read:

§6575-B. Method of elver fishing; limits on gear

1. Gear. It is unlawful for a person to fish for or take elvers by any method other than by hand dip net, elver fyke net or Sheldon eel trap.

2. Number of elver fyke nets and Sheldon eel traps. It is unlawful from noon of March 15th to midnight of June 15th for a person to immerse at any one time:

A. More than 5 elver fyke nets;

B. More than 5 Sheldon eel traps; or

C. Any combination of elver fyke nets and Sheldon eel traps that total more than 5 nets and traps.

3. Rebuttable presumption. It is a rebuttable presumption that an elver fyke net, Sheldon eel trap or elver hand dip net immersed in any coastal waters of the State from noon of March 15th to midnight of June 15th is immersed for the purpose of fishing for or taking elvers.

4. Prohibition on fishing from boats. It is unlawful for a person to set or tend an elver fyke net or a Sheldon eel trap from a boat or to fish for or take elvers from a boat. A person