Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-01
The Game Law.

W. are informed by numerous correspond
cnts 10 different sections Of the State, and by
several in the counties adjacent to this city,
that, either from Ignorance or a bold contempt
for tie authority of the State. the game law is a
dad letter, and its provisions utterly disregard
cd, and that in consequence thereof, game of all
sDr:s 10 Virginia will soon be classed among
The things that were. For the Information of
those who err from Ignorance, We republish the
full text of the law, as it stands 90 the statute
book, as iolIows:-
| 1ss Be il enacted by the General Assembly,
That it shal'not be lawful for any person to kill
or capture or offer for sale or buy any cartridges
| or quail between thu frs. day Of February and
the first day Of November of each year within
this State; nor shall it be lawful to capture par
tridges I. any time by means OF nets or traps OF
any kind until after the expiration Of two years
| from th9 passage Of this act
| q. 1t shall not DO lawful for any person to
! kill or capture pheasants or rutfsd grouse be.
tween tho first day Of February and the first day
OF August of each yoar; nor woodcock between
July CT eSch gear; nor robins between the first
| day Of April and the first day Of November Of
each year; nor shall it be lawful at any time to
Kill or capture any brown thrush. cat bird, car
| dinal or red bird, house wren oriole, wood robin,
blue bird, house martin or Startling, or to destroy
| the ir nests.
Sd. 1t shall not he lawful TO kill or capture
any wild water fowl in this State between the
first day of April aud the first day of September
of each year, except thu wild duck commonly
known and called the summer duck, and except
the wild fowl commonly called sors, or during
the night-that is, between dark and davbreak !;
nor shall it bs lawful to kill wild water fowl ex-
cept with gun that can be raised at arm 8
| 9Th and fred from the shoulder without q
rost Wild geoso may be killed eilLor during
the day or night; provided, that in no case shall
| floating refteotors or lamps be used in shooting
wild ge7so in the night time.
| 4th 1t shall not be lawful to kill or capture
! wild turkeys between the first day Of February
| and tho fifteenth day of October in each year,
nor at any timo by traps Of any kind.
5th 1t shall not BIO lawful for six years from
tho passage OF this act to capture hooking birds
| or 10 buy and sell tho same, and both buyer and
seller shall be subject to the penalty imposed by
| this act, ard in addition eacn shall be fined ono
dollar for every bird sold and bought; but this
section shall not apply to any person catching
or having caught tho same on his own promises,
| unless for sale.
| 9Th 1t shall not DO lawful for any person to
shoot or in any manner whatsoever kill or de-
strOy the bird known as tho marsh hen, nor to
take its eggs later in the season in any year than
tho 25th day Of Juno. Nor shall it be lawful for
| any pOTSOu NlLQlu tllD llulLS u Shtu county W
shoot or in any manner kill or destroy tho bird
known AS the wilet, nor take its eggs later in
| the season than the 10th Of July in any year.
Nor shall it be lawful for any person within
tho limits of said county to shoot or in any man.
ner kill or destroy the bird known as the gull or
striker, in any year, before the first day Ct Sep
| TENDER, nor take their eggs later in tho season
| than the both Of Juno. Any person offending
against the provisions Of this section shall forfeit
and pay for each olfonce not less than five nor
more than ten dollars, recoverable before JUS
| tee Of the peace.
| It'll II shall not BIO lawful to kill or capture
dear within this State between the 10th day Of
December and the 10Th day Of August Of tho
next succeeding year.
Slh. Any person offending against the provis-
ions Of this act shall be guilty Of misdemeanor,
and on conviction thereof in any court before a
justice Of tho peace shall be fined ten dollars for
each offence and shall be imprisoned until said
fine is paid, but not exceeding thirty days. Tho
possession of any prohibited bird or deer within
the prohibited period mentioned in this act shall
DO held prima facie evidence of its violation and
subject the person in possession TO it's penalties
9th. This act shall be given in charge to the
grand jury at every term Of the court at which q
| regular grand jury may be empanneled. And
it shall be the duty of the sheriff Of the county
or corporation in which the offence is committed
TO prosecute the offending party promptly and
vigorously; and in evory case of Wilful failure
to pc, form this duty he shall, on complaint by
any person to the county or corporation judge,
be fined not less than ton dollars nor more tn an
twenty dollars.