Bill Huppert of Baltimore County (and several other readers) asked: Several unmarked illegal nets were removed from the Susquehanna River not too long ago. What happened to the nets? Were they destroyed or sold? I hope they were destroyed because that is the only way to prevent them from being used again. Stealing natural resources must be treated as a major infraction of the law.

Outdoors Girl turned to Eric Schwaab, deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, who began his career at the agency as a Natural Resources Police officer. He replies: When a marked net is seized, NRP holds it as evidence until the case goes to court. The judge decides whether to return the net to the owner or award it to the state. If it is awarded to the state and the Fisheries Service needs that type of net, it is turned over to the Fisheries Service. If it is not needed or if the net is unmarked, it is taken to DNR's Matapeake facility on Kent Island. If it is claimed, Natural Resources Police can take action. Unclaimed nets are destroyed.