The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-12
Protection of Fish.

ETCCSCLlOu VI z 1SiA.
At the request OF some friends in the
country we republisl below the act for the
protection OF fish. 4 friend, who is an en-
pert angler, and who is ga gay and festive"
wag Of Culpepcr county, is urgent that the
| fish shall be protected and that his sport
shall not be ruined by the traps and seincs
OF the pot-hunters. We tender him our
sympathy in his distress. He says that
Mountain run" has been dragged twice
within the last month. We dcplore this
barbarism, and VIC very much fear that the
moral sensibilities of Culpeper are sadly OH
the wane. Our correspondent is the dis
tinsuishcd editor OF the Elk Run Gazette,
and we trust he will bring the power OF his
press to bear upon the depraritics that are
entrenching upon law and morals in the
venerable county in which he resides:
county OF honorable fame and pleasant
memories.
We publish this tish-protecting law with
readiness. We trust it will quicken the
perception of their true interests OF people
in all sections. The stocking OF the rivers
with fish will increase the resources OF the
people in afl quarters for both pleasure ana
subsistence In the interior mess OF fish,
when needed to add to the variety as well
~ excellence OF the hoSpitable board, Wouiu
be real bencfaction. TO go forth on
leisure day with angle and rod and return
with mess OF beautiful trout, or bass, or
perch, is pleasure ut once genuine ana re-
fined: and the blessing secured to AL neigh
borhoods of proper supply OF healthy fish
to constitute part of the subsistence OF the
community is a thing not to be oyer-eStl-
mated in lis effects upon both health and
qualification.
Ii the people only understand these
things and combine to carry out the laws
for the protection Of fish, in the course OF
| q few years the rivers and creeks OF II
rinia will be so well stocked that it will be
= privilege of the humbest citizen to serve
upon his table at any time he may desire II
a mess Of fine fish. II the law be properly
enforced the work will be done finely.
And why shall notthe people, by their own
forecast and honest respect for law, secure
to themselves the great blessing they may
thus acquire? Should they, by giving way
to lawleSsncSs and barbarism. prevent this
great object: Shall the people OF Virginia,
with regard to this matter OF fish. live the
barbarous life with its feast or Iast-lts en-
cess one day and lis privation another:
Rather let them respect the laws, ana by
wisdom and ciylity maintain that regular
itv OF life with its orderly government OF
the supplies and qualifications that Is the
best proof OF refinement and virtue.
Every community owes it to its public char
acter and to its own comfort and happiness
TO repress all lawless and barbarous disre-
gard Of the public welfare. We call atten-
ton to the law
An Act for the Protection Of Fish IA the
Waters Of the Commonwealth A1ore Tide
Water.
lApproved March 81, 1S77.J
l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Uirqinia, That it shall not be lawful for
any person to catch or destroy Oh to take
any fish in or from any Of the waters OF this
Commonwealth above tide-water by means
OF any seine, or net, or trap OF any kind, or by
any other means whatsoever otherwise than
bv angling with hook and line, for six years
from the passage of this act: Provided,
That none Of the provisions OF this act snail
hinder or prohibit" the commissioners OF
fisheries or their agents from catching or
taking fish from any Of the waters or TINS
State at such times and by such means as
may seem proper to them: and prou.ded
further, That nothing in this act shall DC
understood to forbid the use OF hana- OF
miunow-net in taking small FISH to be used
for bait in angling.
3. It shall not be lawful for any person to
kin or capture mountain trout (salmo fo1-
tinnlis) in any OF the waters OF this State
between the fifteenth day Of September and
the first day OF April OF each year by any
process whatsoever, nor ut any other time,
eycept bv angling with hook and line. Nor
shall it be lawful TO kill OF capture any river
bass commonly called black bass OF black
perchl or pond bass commonly called south
ern chub) between the fifteenth day OF May
and the first day of July Of each year; nor
shall it be lawful TO shoot Or spear either
species of these fish at any time.
5. 1t shall not be lawful for any person
to have in his possession during the time in
which the taking OF the same is forbidden
in the foregoing sections any fish therein
forbidden to be taken, or to buy or sell, or
make any use of-such fish within said for
hidden period, under the penalties OF this
act; and said possession, sale, or use shall
be deemed prima tacie evidence OF its vio-
lation. ...
1. 1t shall not be lawful for any person or
corporation to use fish-berries, lime, or giant
powder, or dynamite, or any other explo.
siye article, for the destruction Of fish.
s. Any person or corporation offending,
against the first, second, third, and fourth
sections OF this act shall be guilty Of mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof i'll any
court, or before justice Of the peace, shall
be fined in the sum OF twenty dollars for
each offence, and shall be imprisoned till
said fine is paid, but not exceeding thirty
days; and it shall be the duty OF the sheriff
OF the county or corporation in which the
offence is committed to prosecute the offend
ing party promptly and vigorously; and in
every case of wilful failure to perform this. 1
duty, he shall, OH complaint by any person
to the county or corporation Judge, be fined
not less than ten dollars nor more than
twenty dollars. In addition to the penalty
above specified, the offending party shall
forfeit all boats, nets, or other illegal con-
triyances, pay all costs OF suit, aud the
charges incident to the capture OF said lille
. 6. II shall not be lawful for any person to
modest or damage any tsh-eggs or young
fish in the boxes or troughs OF the fish COM
missioners or their agents, or any private |
individual engaged in the artificial breeding
OF fish, OF iniure the boxes, troughs, dams,
or ponds, or other apparatus OF said COM
missionars and agents, under the penalties