The World According to Nick
My take on Software, Technology, Politics, and anything else I feel like talking about.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Permit Me Please 

I haven't done one of these in a long time... shame on me. Here are some of the more obscure permit and license requirements for the State of Wisconsin. Today I'm featuring permits from the DNR.

Bait Dealers:

It shall be unlawful for any person, except licensed bait dealers to have in possession or under control more than 600 minnows at any time. A licensed bait dealer must be present while employees are collecting bait and the licensed bait dealer must have their license available for inspection.

It shall be unlawful for any person to take, gather or collect (or attempt to do so) for the use or sale as bait by himself or others any of the larvae or nymphs of aquatic insects in or from any stream or spring hole tributary thereto inhabited by trout.

BAIT DEALER LICENSE FEES.

(a) RESIDENT BAIT DEALER, CLASS A. The fee for a Class A bait dealer license is $50.
(b) RESIDENT BAIT DEALER, CLASS B. The fee for a Class B bait dealer license is $10.

Heaven forbid you have too many minnows. Do I need a permit for a large aquarium too? What makes a minnow in need of more protection than a gold fish?

Wild Ginseng Dealers:

Any person who buys at least eight ounces of wild ginseng in Wisconsin for the purpose of resale is considered a dealer and is required to have a Wisconsin Dealer's License. Paid employees or family members of a licensed dealer who are working at the primary place of business for that dealer will be covered by the licensed dealer.

All dealer's licenses are valid July 1 to June 30. Three classes of resident dealer's licenses allow dealers to choose the license that best fits their needs:

Class A ($100) - allows transactions up to 100 pounds
Class B ($500) - allows transactions up to 1000 pounds
Class C ($1000) - allows unlimited amounts of transactions

Non-residents may purchase a non-resident dealer's license ($1000) for unlimited amounts of transactions.

There are wild Ginseng trees all around where I live, that drop every couple of years. Apparently it's considered a delicacy in the Hmong Community... and they come around and collect it off the curbs to prepare it. The stuff smells incredibly bad. That has nothing to do with the permits really, I just thought I'd mention it.

Guide License:

Resident Required to guide, direct, or assist other persons in hunting, trapping or fishing in Wisconsin. This is one guide license, it is not broken down into hunting vs. fishing vs. trapping. Someone licensed, is licensed in all. Fee $40.00.

Non-Resident Required to guide, direct or assist other persons in fishing in Wisconsin (for any compensation). Only allows guiding for fishing. A nonresident cannot be licensed as a guide for hunting or trapping. Fee $100.00.

Mind you... there are no other substantive requirements other than you be 18. No training, no reporting requirements on who you guided or what they caught, just pay your money.

Fish Stocking in Private Ponds :

In order to stock fish in a pond, you must submit a fish stocking permit application (form 9400-060) to the DNR fish biologist who manages the waters where you wish to stock the fish. This permit is required under Chapter 29.736 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.
...
As of January 2002, a fish health certificate is required for all fish stocked in state waterbodies, including ponds. When you contact a fish farm to order fish, ask for a copy of the most recent fish health certificate. You will need to attach a copy of the certificate to your stocking permit application. DNR cannot issue a stocking permit unless the fish health certificate is submitted along with your application. This certification is required under Chapter 29.736 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.

That's right... for private ponds. And yes, you have to certify the health of all your fish. From what I can tell, the DNR doesn't certify the health of anything coming out of Lake Michigan... which would be impossible given the amount of raw sewage that the MMSD is allowed to dump. But of course, the government never has a problem holding you and I to a higher standard compared to itself.

Comments:

I think the wild ginseng thing has to do with collecting the root, which is used in medicinal preparations throughout China. Though they cultivate their own there, the wild stuff is considered the best and, I believe, can only be found in North America.

I could be wrong, but maybe the permits are to keep wild root harvesting in check.

  Posted at December 01, 2005 9:55 AM by Blogger Be  
Now I need to look into what fruit that is that really stinks up the area every couple years...

  Posted at December 01, 2005 9:57 AM by Blogger Nick  
Is it Southeast Asian? Could be this. Haven't gotten up the nerve to taste it and don't know that I will. Its smell's pretty distinctive.

  Posted at December 01, 2005 12:07 PM by Blogger Be  
No, that's not it. I'll find out and let you know.

  Posted at December 01, 2005 12:14 PM by Blogger Nick  
I have 599 minnows. I hope none of them get their groove on and make me get arrested.

But if they do, I'll just take the minnows that put me over the limit in the pond in my backyard...... oh wait.

I guess I'm just screwed huh?

What a friggin' joke some of the rules and regulations in this country are.

  Posted at December 01, 2005 12:28 PM by Blogger Kuflax  
I'll be waiting for your report on smelly fruits with bated breath...or is that baited breath?

  Posted at December 01, 2005 12:44 PM by Blogger Be  
Aha! Now I remember... they're Ginko Trees

  Posted at December 01, 2005 12:49 PM by Blogger Nick  
Post a Comment

About Me



Name: Nick
Home: Wauwatosa, WI, United States

I'm a Software Consultant in the Milwaukee area. Among various geeky pursuits, I'm also an amateur triathlete, and enjoy rock climbing. I also like to think I'm a political pundit.


 View My Profile

Archives
 Home Page

Subscribe to this Feed

Search Archives
Previous Posts
What The F*ck?
A Quick Thought
Priorities People!
I'll Take My TBS With a Side of History Channel Pl...
Carnival Reminder
I Have One Word for You... Winter
Berkeley Has It Right
Steroids Were Just a Foot In The Door
A Solid Win
Delusions of Grandeur

Personal Links
Carnival of the Badger
The Coding Monkey
del.icio.us Links
Flickr Photos
Blog Critics Reviews





Blogroll Me!

music
books
video
culture
politics
sports
gaming

www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from Nick_Schweitzer. Make your own badge here.

Credits

Blogcritics: news and reviews







This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com

RSS-to-JavaScript.com

Listed on BlogShares

Design By maystar