The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-16
How sEsaeax Bass are Destroyed near
Petersburg.


10 q notice OF time TO stop catching bass OF
club. Will you do me the favor to publish
the section of,Iaw governing if, or the pages
OF Acts OF Assembly, that can find it in
The destruction OF club in this section is a
shame-for instance, at Ford's pond in Din
widNe. sixteen club, ranging from three
to seven pounda, were shot yesterday while
bedding or looking after their Young.
Yours respectfully, j. W. YoUNG.
I'VE print below, in full, the law referred
tol: -
an Act for the Protection of Fish in the
Waters of the Commonwealth Aboue
Iids,oater. 1-
|; Improved March 21, 1871
1. Be 1t enacted by the General Assembly
tof Virginia, That il 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
Commonwealth above tidewater, 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 of this act: Pro-
vided that none Of the provisions OF this
act shall hinder or prohibit the commits
sioners Of fisheries, or their agents, from
catching or taking fish from any OF the wa
tiers OF this State, at such times and by such
means as may seem proper to them; and
provided further, that nothing in this act
shall be understood 10 forbid the use OF a
hand or mlnnew-net in taking small fish
to be used for bait in angling. @
2. 1t shalnot belawful for any person to
kill or capture mountain trout (sdimo
tontindliS), in any OF the waters of this
State between the fifteenth day OF Septem-
ber' and the first day OF April oi each year,
by any process whatsoever, nor at any other
time, except by angling with hook and line.
Nor shall it be lawful to kill or capture any
river bass commonly called black bass or
black pereh), or pond bass commonly called
southern 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 lime.
8. II shall not be lawful for any person to
bave 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 OF 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 prt1na tacie evidence OF its Yio-
iation.
4. It shall not be lawful for any person
or corporation to use t.h-bcrIies, 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
sections of this act shall be guilty OF Il mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof in any
court, or before a justice Of the peace. shall
be fined in the sum OF twenty dollars for
ea ch offence. and shall be imprisoned til!
said fiue is paid. but not exceeding thirty
days; and it shall be the duty Of the sheriff
OF the county or corporation in which the
oifenccis is committed to prosecute the Offend
ing party promptly and vigorously; and IN
every case OF wilfu failure to perform this
duty, lie shall, on complaint by any person
to The county or corporation Judge, be lined
not less than ten dollars nor more tina n
twenty dollars. In addition to the penalty
above specified, the offending party Shall
forfeit all boats, nets, or other illegal con-
trivarces, pay all costs OF suit, and the
charges incident to the capture Of said
illegal contlivances.
G. 1t shall not be lawful for any person to
molest or damage any tish-eggs or young
fish in tire boxes or troughs OF the fish
commissioners or their agents, OF any pri-
vate individual engaged in the artificial
breeding OF fish, or iniure the boxes,
troughs, dana. OF ponds. or other apparatus
OF said commissioners and agents, under the
penalties Of the fifth section OF this act.
Z. 1t shall be the duty Of The Judge OF each
county or corporation court TO give this
act in charge to every grand jury. whose
duty it shall he to present every infraction
thereof not reported and prosecuted by the
sheriff; and the CommonweaIth's attorney
for each county and city shall diligently
prosecute every such violation OF this act {:
Provided the provisions of this act shall not
apply to any OF the waters emplyirg into
Tennessee and Kentucky.
s. All acts and parts Of acts in conflict
with this act are hereby repealed.
0. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage. .....