New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 600 - MARINE FISHING RULES
Part Fis 602 - PROHIBITED MARINE ACTIVITIES
Section Fis 602.11 - Lobsters

(a) No person shall possess any V-notched female American lobster. For the purposes of this paragraph, V-notched lobster means any female lobster marked with a V-notch in the right flipper next to the middle flipper or any female lobster which is mutilated in a manner which could hide or obliterate the mark. The right flipper shall be determined when the underside of the lobster is down and its tail toward the person making the determination.

(b) No person shall be considered in violation of paragraph (a) if any such lobster is immediately returned to the natural habitat.

(c) All commercial and limited and part-time commercial lobster licensees shall immediately V-notch and return to the water, all egg-bearing female lobster captured in the process of taking lobster. For the purpose of this paragraph, a V-notch is a "V" shaped notch, cut by means of a sharp bladed instrument, of at least 1/4 inch and not greater than 1/2 inch in depth and tapering to a sharp point in the flipper next to and to the right of the center flipper as viewed from the rear of the female lobster when the underside of the lobster is down.

(d) Any person who has more than one area designated on their federal lobster permit shall comply with the most restrictive measures regardless of where the lobsters were taken.