Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-03
PUBLIC LOCAL LAW.
CHAPTER 2I9.

AN ACT to repeal section twenty-five, of an act
passed January session, eighteen hundred
and sevnty-two, chapter one hundred TWEEN
ty-eight entitled IN Act to repeal section
twenty-five, of article forty-o of the Code
Public General Laws entitled Fish and
Fisheries, - subtitle ''PatuXent,' regulating
the right of fishing in the PatuNcnt River
and its tributaries, and re-enact the same
with sub-sectons.
WHEREAS, Sundry persons, unknown TO the
citizens of Prince Georges Charles, st.
Mary 5 and Calvert Counties, have heretofore
trequented the waters of the PatuNcnt River
and with immense and improper SeinS, pat
ent weirS. and other traps and devices, have
been engaged in the catching and taking Of
fish in said river; and 1chtreuS, the quantity
of fish in said river is fast diminishing, and
will, at no distant day, without some wise,
prudent and ctfectual means be adopted to
prevent the wanton destruction OF the same,
cease to be Il source OF supply OF food to the
residents along the valley OF said stream;
and ,rhereaS strangers and non-reSidents Of
this State have been in the habit of fishing in
the waters of said PatuNcnt River, in such
manner and hV such means 10 destroy
Young and small fish in great numbers, and
to etfectuallv prevent the passage of fish up
said river TO their spawning grounds; and
tchersdS in order TO prevent any further WON
ton destruction OF fish in the waters of said
river by such SeinS patent wclrS, traps and
ana other devices, aforesaid, and 10 protect
citizens of Prince Georges, Charles, -.
>--S--try'S and Calvert Counties in their rights;
~ efore-
SECTION /. Be it enacted BY tie General is
,em5ly Of Maryland, That section twenty-five
= a.
hundred and Seyenty-two, chapter one hun
dred and twenty-eight, entitled an act TO Tt
peal section twenty-five of Article torty-one Of
the Code of Public General Laws. entitled Fish
and Fisheries - Sub-titled ''PatuNcnt,' reEu-
lating the right Of fishing in the PaIuNcnt
River and its tributaries, be and the same is
hereby repealed aud rc-enacted with sub-Sec-
tons, so as TO read A. follows:
- 1t shall not be lawful for any person or
persons, other than bona fie resident citizens
of Prince Georges. Charles 81. Mary and
Calvert Counties, to take or catch fish in the
waters of the Patuxcnt River and its trihut..-
ries. with any seine, weir, trap or other device,
excepting only the hook and Unsupported,
that the provisions of this section shall not ap-
ply. 10 such shall obtain permission from the
owners of lands bordering on said waters 10
fish off and opposite his. her or their land or
Lands so bordering on said waters and proyid
Cd that none other than bona fis resident cIu-
zenS OF said counties shall Use il any OF the Wa
tiers of said river that hiad on Prince George
Charles and Calvert Counties, above the village
known IS Benedict. any seine. Weir or net more
than seventy ftihoms long, and less ;Aau two
inches square in the mesh.
SUBSECTION i 1t shall not be lawful for any
person or persons To empty their sclncs upon
the beach. 50 rs TO leave the smaller fish TO per
iSh. but TO empty the same IN water of sum
cient depth 10 enable such smaller hsh 10 re-
turn TO the waters tor growth and ma;uratiou-
SUBSECTION ;. Any person or persons vIo-
lating the provisions Of this 40; shall hc fined
not less than twenty-five. nor more than one
hundred dollars, in the discretion Of the jus
tice Of the Peace before whom the case IS heard
which amount shall be Appropriated to the Pub
lie School Fund of the couuty wherein such
jud gmcnt is rendered and for the payment Of
the amount OF fine so adjG1gei. any boat, seine
weir or oihcv-hshng tackle. used by ans person
or persons in violation OF the provisions Of this
Act. shall be seized and held a. security, upon
complaint against such offending party.
SECTION 2 And Il 4 enacted That this Ac,
shall take effect from the date Of its passage.
We hereby certify, tina; the aforegoiug is a
correct copy Of an Act Of Assembly passed Jan
uary session, 1874.
AUGUSTUS GASSAWAY,
Secretary OF the Senate.
MILTON Y. KIDD,
Chief Clerk Of the House OF Delegates.
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