The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-02-24
THE OYSTER LAW.

So great has been the demand for copies of
the Day Book containing this law, that we
republish it for the benefit of our readers:
The Senate on Friday last passed an impor-
tant amendment to the Code, concerning the
taking and planting, selling and buying of
oysters in the waters of Virginia.
The bill provides that hereafter it shall not
be lawful to take or catch oysters in the wa
tiers of this Commonwealth in the months of
June, July and August, nor for any person to
buy or sell them by any other than stave
measures, which in no case shall hold more
than one bushel-the penalty for offending
against this provision being fifty dollars. This
does not, however, apply to private planters
The bill further provides that if any person,
other than a citizen of this State, shall take
oysters or terrapins, or plant oysters in the
waters thereof, or in the rivers Pocemoke or
Potomac, he shall forfeit FIVE hundred dollars,
and the vessel, tacle and appurtenances. But
this section shall not extend to citizen of
Maryland taking oysters or terrapins in the
said mentioned rivers. If any citizen of this
State shall be concerned or interested with
any person not resident within this State, in
the taking, catching or planting oysters with
in this State, or shall knowingly permit any
person not resident within this State, to take
catch or plant oysters in his name, he shall
forfeit five hundred dollars, one moiety where
of shall go to the informer.
Ii any person, except as Is otherwise pro-
vlded, shall take oysters with any other in
strument than common oyster tongs, with a
bar or head not exceeding thirty inches in
| length, he shall forfeit five hundred dollars.
1t shall be lawful for any citizen Of this State
to take oysters with any other instrument
than common oyster tongs in the waters of
| Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, or any of the
\ waters adjacent thereto, in the county of Ac-
comac but this privilege shall not extend
to the taking Of oysters, as aforesaid, within
the mouth<of any river or creek in said coun-
I ty, to tho taking of the same in any wa
ters of a less depth than twenty feet, nor to
the taking of the same at any time after the
10th day of May and before the LIST day of
! September. Any citizen of this State may
take oysters, as aforesaid, upon obtaining from
the clerk of the county court of said
county license for SO doing for one year, and
paying therefor the sum of one dollar as a
fee to said clerk; which said license shall be
renewed and which said fee shall be paid
yearly; and such citizen shall before obtaining
such license enter into bond, with sufficient
security, to be approved of by said clerk,
| payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia, in
in the penalty of five hundred dollars, cond-
toned that he shall not be concerned or inter-
ested with any citizen or citizens of any other
State in taking or planting oysters, within the
waters of this State; and that he shall not,
within the limits of said county, violate this
act, or any law of this State, in respect to the
taking or planting of oysters: and that he
will endeavor to prevent all violations of this
act by citizens of other States, by arrestine
and taking them before the proper tribunals
which he shall have power to do without
warrant, for such violation committed within
his view.
If any person, after the first day of May
and before the first day of October in any
year, shall catch or take oysters from their
natural beds, or shall buy or sell oysters Sc
taken, in quantities greater than twenty-five
bushels in any one day, he shall forfeit fifty
dollars for each offence.