Upon application to the commissioner and the payment of a fee of $60.00 for each net, the commissioner may issue, in his discretion, a license permitting the licensee to fish for shad, in the Hudson river, from March 15 to June 15; provided further, however, no net shall be set or put in position and no shad shall be taken during the period from Friday noon until Saturday midnight of each week; provided, however, that any net which has been set prior to Friday noon shall be permitted to remain in position and be lifted at the next high water; provided further, however, that the aforementioned 36-hour lift period shall be the minimum period and the maximum lift period shall be at the discretion of the commissioner.
N.J.S. § 23:9-115