The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-07-09

We publish the following by au-
thority of the Board of County Com
missioners
AN ACT to / ruuecJ the Food Fishes of the
State, and to regulate Fisheries.
The People of the State of Florida, repre-
scented i'll Senate and Assembly, do enact as
follows: SECTION l. No person shall use in
the rivers of this state any gill net for the
capture of the fish known as shad with q
mesh less than five inches from knot to
knot, measured lengthwise. or use a seine
for the capture of any of the food fishes
with mesh less than three and half
inches from knot to knot, measured length
wise under penalty of thirty dollars for
each offence: Provided, That this section
shall not apply to any person who shall
use seine or net with q small ler.mesh
than the one defined for the exclusive pur-
pose of catching minnows for bait.
SEC. 2. No person shall catch or capture
any shad. or use gill net or seine for the
capture of the fish known as shad, between
the first day OF April and the first dav of
December OF any year, under a penalty of
twenty five dollars for each offence. and
the contiscation of all nets, seines, boats
and tackle used in such unlawful acts.
SEC. 3. No person shall place, construct
or erect in any of the rivers of this state.
any pond, dyke or purseinet for the cap
UuIO VI lOOu USutS, uuUeE Il DonHlIV OF 1OIfV
dollars for each offence.
SEC. f. No person who has not resided in
the state six months previous thereto shall
engage in the netting, capture or catching
any food fishes i'll the public waters of this
state for the purpose OF selling OF of ex-
porting or shipping them to other states
OF to foreign countries; and any non-resi-
dent as aforesaid who shall violate the pro-
visions of this section shall be fined in the
sum of seventy-five dollars for each
offence, with coutiscatlon of all nets boats.
tackle and appliances used in such unlaw-
full act: Provided, THAT this section shall
not apply TO scientific persons who shall
capture food fishes exclusively fer scien-
tihc purposes
SEC. 5 The County Commissioners of
each county are hereby authorized to an
point special agent who shall be kno wn
as slsh Baillff to enforce the provisions
of this act, land such Bailitf shall have pow
er to arrest and take before magistrate
and subject TO trial according to law, anv
person violating any of the provisions of
this act, and the magistrate may order the
seizure OF any implement used by the If.
fender i'll violating this act, and in case of
conviction OF the accused may make an
order cOnfscating such implements TO the
use of tine state. And the County Commits
siOners OF each county shall have author
ity to pay such Bailtf such reasonable re-
Enumeration a. they may decide upon.
SEC. 6. Any person violating any of the
provisions OF this act shall be deemed
guilty of a msdemeanor, and shall unon
conviction be punished by fine and costs
or imprisonment and costs, as direc ed in
this act one-half of the fine to be paid to
the informer, and the other half into the
treasury OF the county. And in default Of
the payment of any fine. the offender shall
be committed to the county jail for thirty
days. Ii any seines. boats. nets or tackle
are contiscated. the presiding officer Of fine
court before whom the case NAV be tried
shall direct the proper officer to sell after
due notice, to the highest bidder. such con
tiscated article for the payment of the fine
costs and expenses of sale, The costs and
charges shall be the same as may be allowed
to Sheritfs and Constables for like services
and expenses.
SEC. Z. BY the words food fisbeso Is
meant such fishes as are used for food
SEC. s. The County Commissioners may
employ prosecuting attorney o prosecute
cases under. this act, such attorney TO he
paid from the county treasury sucn conn
pensatiOn as may be agreed upOn nv the
County Commissioners Provided. That
the provisions of this act shall become an.
erative in the different counties OF this
state only after publication of the act for
four weeks. and acceptance thereof nv fine
County Commissioners.
Approved March IL, 1879. $500.