Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-09
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1877.
Fish Bill.

The following bill is now before The Legsla.
ture Of Virginia.:
A BILL for the protection of fish in all the
waters Of the Commonwealth.
/. BE it enacted by the General Assembly OF
Virginia, That it shall not be lawful for any
person to catch or destroy, or to take any fish
| in or from any Of the waters OF this common
wealth above tide water, by means Of any seine
or net, or trap of any kind or by any other
means whatsoever, otherwise than by angling
with hook and line, for six years from the
passage o.! this act provided, that none of the
provisions OF this act shall hinder or prohibit
the commissioners Of fisheries, or their agents,
| from catching Or taking fish from any Of the
waters of this State, at such times and by such
meaus as may seem proper to them: and pro-
vided further, that nothing in this act shall be
understood to forbid the use Of hand or min
now net 10 taking small fish to be used Tor bait
in angling.
,. 1t shall not be lawful for any person to
kill or capture mountain trout (samo iontln.
alis), in any of the waters Of this State be-
tween the fifteenth day oil September and the
first day of April, Of each year, by any process
whatsoever, nor at any other Time, except by
angling with hook and line. Nor shall 1t be
lawful to kill or capture any river bass (com-
pond bass commonly called Southern cbub)
between the fifteenth day OF May and the first
day of July, Of each year; nor shall it be law
full to shoot or spear either species Of these fish
at any time.
g. 1t shall DOT be lawful for any person to
have in bis possession during the time in which
the taking of the same is forbidden in the fore
going sections. any fish therein forbidden TO be
taken, or to buy or SELL or make any use OF
such fish within said forbidden period, under
the penalties OF this act; and said possession,
sale, or use shall be- deemed prlma iace cvl-
dcnce Of its violation.
4. 1t shall not be lawful for any person or
corporation to Use fish berries, lime, or giant
powder, or dynamite, or any other explosive
article, for the destruction Of fish.
5. Any person or corporation Offending
against The first, second, third, and fourth Sec
tons Of this act. shall be guilty Of a misdcmca-
nor, and on conviction thereof IN any court, or
before Justice of the Peace, shall be lined IN
the sum Of twenty dollars for each offence, and
shall be imprisoned till sld fee is paid, but
not cxceediog thirty days; and it shall be the
duty Of the Sheriff Of the coIcty or corpora
ton, in which the O!fcuce is committed, to pre-.
secutc the offending party promptly and vigor.
ously; and in every case Of wlIul failure to
perform this duty, he shall, on complaint by
any person to the coury or corporation Judge,
be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than
twenty dollars. 10 addition TO the penalty
above specified, The ol1eudi0g party shall Tor.
felt all boats, nets or other iIlcga coutrvances,
pay all costs of sut, aud the charges incident
to the capture Of said Illegal contrivanccs.
1t shall rot be lawful for any person to mo-
lest or damage any fish eggs or goupg ilsh IN
the boxes or troughs Of the fish commissioners
or their agents, or auy private individual en-
gagged in the artificial breeding Of fish, or lnjurc
lbe boxes troughs, dams, or ponds, or other
apparatus OF said commissioners aud aSenIs'
under the penalties Of the filth section OF this
act.
!. 1t shall be the duty Of the judge OF each
county or cooperation court 10 give tins act 10
charge to cccry grand jury, whose duty 1t shall
be TO present. every ini:acti0n thereof, not re-
portei and prosecuted by the Sheriff. and the
commonwealth attorney for each county aud
city shall diligently prosecute every such VIOLA
ton Of this act =,
s. All acts and parts Of acts III conflict with
this act are hereby repealed.
.. This act shaI! be in force from ITS passage