Bob,
While I do not know much about the Housatonic River, a question I would ask is if they would have been safe to eat. Most of the shellfish programs require the shellfish to be placed in a well defined area, for purging, until tests show they can then sold for human consumption. If these guys were just greedy, then what the judge slaps them with would be fine with me. If however, it was their intent to sell shellfish of questionable quality for profit, then the judge should throw the book at them. I did not know that the Housatonic River was capable of supporting a commercial oyster fishery. |