1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to commercial fishing on Lake of the Woods; 
  1.3             authorizing a limited number of rough fish and lake 
  1.4             perch licenses; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, 
  1.5             section 97C.827.  
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 97C.827, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      97C.827 [LAKE OF THE WOODS; COMMERCIAL FISHING OF ROUGH 
  1.10  FISH AND LAKE PERCH.] 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [PROMOTION.] The commissioner shall promote 
  1.12  and encourage taking rough fish and lake perch from Lake of the 
  1.13  Woods.  Live entrapping nets shall be used.  Gill nets shall not 
  1.14  be used.  
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [ISSUANCE OF LICENSES.] The commissioner in 1995 
  1.16  shall issue not more than four commercial fishing licenses ~~to~~ 
  1.17  ~~take rough fish on Lake of the Woods~~ valid for five-year terms 
  1.18  for purposes of subdivision 1.  The issuance of the commercial 
  1.19  fishing licenses may not be restricted because a person holds 
  1.20  other licenses under the game and fish laws or operates 
  1.21  particular kinds of businesses.  In selecting licensees, the 
  1.22  commissioner shall give priority to the experience of each 
  1.23  applicant in the fishing and netting occupations.  
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [ROYALTIES.] The commissioner may negotiate a 
  1.25  royalty to be paid to the state by licensees, based on the 
  2.1   weight of fish taken each year under the permit.