Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-05-25
FISH LAW.


ly passed by the Legislature, and
signed last week by the Governor.
Section l. BE 1t enacteaby the Gen.
eral assembly Of Maryland, That the
following Sections be added to article
IL, of the Code of Public General laws,
title Fish and Fisheries, to be known
as Sections l5A, l53. l5C, l5D, l5E,
15F, 15G, l5H.
Sec. l5A. 1t shall not be lawful for
any person to catch or destroy, or to
attempt to catch or destroy fish in the
waters of the Potomac River or trlbu.
tares, above the place commonly
known as the Little Falls" ofthe Po-
tomac, during the month Of May, ex-
cept shad and herring, which may bs
caught at any time.
Sec. l5B. 1t shall not be lawful for
any person to catch or destroy or to
attempt to catch or destroy fish, in the
waters of the Potomac River and trib.
utaries, above the said Little Falls
of the Potomac, at any time, BY means
of sledging, or by trot or outlines, nor
shall it be lawful to catch or destroy,
attempt to catch or destroy any black
bass or salmon in any manner, between
the first day of May and the first day
June, in each year, nor shall it be
lawful for any person to kill fish with
poison or drug, or by the explosion of
powder or other substance at any
time.
SEC. 15C. The Fish Commissioner
Of the Western Shore of the State, shall
cause to be erected over the several
canal dams on the Potomac River, du.
ring the year next ensuing the passage
of this Act, suitable fish ways or lad.
ders, whereby, the fish may be able to
ascend over the said dams, and the sum
Of twenty -four hundred dollars, or SO
much thereof, as may be necessary is
hereby appropriated for that purpose.
SEC 15D. The owner or owners of
all dams Except the canal dams) now
erected, or here after to be erected in,
or across the Potomac River, or
streams running into said river, up
which fish are accustomed to run and
spawn, shall make and keep in repair
properly constructed fish ladders or
fish wavs, to be placed on said dams,
so as to afford to the fish ir the said
river or streams, free course up and
said river or streams, said ladders or
hSh-wavs, to be approved by the fish
Commissioner, and if any owner or
owners of such dams shall fai to com.
ply with this provision within six
months after notice has been served as
hereinafter provided, he or they shall
be guilty of m,sdemFnor, and upon
conviction thereof in the Court of the
County where such owner resides,
shall be fined not less than three hun
dred dollars, nor more than five hum
dred dollars, and such dam shall be
deemed nuisance, and liable to be
abated as other nulsances under the
laws of the State.
SEC. l5E. The County Commission
erB of the county along which a dam
or dams erected now, or hereafter to
be erected In or across the Potomac
River, or streams running into SAID
river, when satisfied that said dam or
| d ans are so constructed as to cut of
the fish from free course up and down
said river or stream, shall give notice
to the owner or owners to construct
and keep iii repair proper hsn ways or
ladders as herelnbetore provided.
SEC. l5F. Nothing in this Act shall
be so construed as to prevent the
catching of minnows or small fish for
angling or scientific purposes, nor to
prevent the Commissioners of Fisheries
Of this state, or any person in their
employ from catching fish with nets
or otherwise, at any time, for the pur-
pose of propagation or stocking other
waters, nor to prevent any person
from taking fish in any way, at any
time, from his private dam or pond,
which he may have stocked with fish.
Sec. log. Any person violating the
provisions of Sec. l5A, or lob, shall
pay q fine Of not less than ten, nor
more than twenty dollars for each Of
fence, upon conviction, before any
magistrate having jurisdiction in this
State, or upon failure to pay such fine
and costs shall be imprisoned in the
county jail for not less than 10 nor
more than 80 days, provided that the
right of appeal to the Circuit Court
for the counties shall be reserved to
all parties under the provisions of this
Act.
SEC. l5H. This Act shall apply to
the Potomac River and tributorles on
ly, above what is commonly known as
IT, Little Falls of the Patomac.
Sec. 2. and be 1t enacted, That this
! Act shall take effect from the date OF
It's passage.