Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-09-17
West Virginia Game Laws.

II any person shall shoot, hunt,
range, fish or fowl, within the en-
closed lands of another person with
out permission from the owner, oceu-
pier or agent thereof, he shall forfeit
three dollars for each offense to the
owner. When any person is con-
victed the third time of said offense,
the justice rendering judgment there
for shall require him to give a recog-
nizance, with good security, in a sum
of not less than one hundred dollars,
for his good behaviour for year;
or if he fails to give such security,
commit him to Jail for one month un-
less it be sooner given. AS to unen-
closed lands, petition has to be made
to the county court, and notice given
by publication in newspaper.
1t shall not be lawful for any per-
son TO catch or destroy any of the
fish in the creeks or rivers of this
State by means of a drag or other
nets, fish pots, weirs, traps, by
sledging, shooting, or other devices
(eXcept by hook and line and gig
and spear) nor shall it be lawful to
put in the rivers, creeks. or. streams,
of this State, at any time, any fish
pots, weirs, or traps; nor shall it be
lawful for any person to catch or de-
stroy any of the fish in the rivers of
this State, by means of drag or other
nets, sledging, shooting, seins, or
other device Except by hook and
line and spear) from the first day of
April to the first day of December of
each year. 1t shall not he lawful to
catch or destroy any jack salmon, in
any manner, between the first day of
April and the fifteenth day of June
of each year, nor to catch or destroy
any brook trout or land-locked sal
mon i'll any way between the first
day of September and the first day
of January of each year; nor shall it
be lawful for any person to kill fish
at any time with Coculus Indicus or
other poison, or by the use of expIo-
sives.
1t shall not be lawful for any per-
son, engaged at any time in catching
fish, TO trespass upon or go into any
enclosed field, adjoining or near the
stream in which said person is fish
ing; nor to pass through any en-
closed field for the purpose of fish
ing without permission from the
owner or occupier of such field, nor
shall it be lawful for any person, at
any season, TO catch or destroy fish
in any dam or pond, the property of
any person, except with the consent
of the owner of such dam or pond,
unless such dam or pond be in some
of the rivers of this State. But Moth
ing in this act shall be construed to
prevent the catching of minnows or
small fish (except salmon, shad or
trout,) by means of hand or cast
nets to be used in angling or scien-
tiffc purposes; nor to prevent the
fish commissioners of this State, at
any time with nets or seines, for the
purpose of propagation, or stocking
other waters, nor to prevent any per-
son from taking in any way fish from
his private dam, pond OF spring at
| any time. Any person, who shall
buy or receive any brook trout,
land-iocked salmon, California sal
mon, German carp. or any other fish
caught or taken contrary to the pro-
visions of this act, knowing the same
to be caught or taken, shall be guilty
of misdemeanor, and shall be pun
ished therefor as hereinbefore pro-
vided.
1t shall not be lawful for any per-
son in any place to catch, kill or in
jure, or pursue with such intent, any
quail or Virginia partridge, between
the first day of December and the
last day of October; or any wild
turkey between the first day Of Jan
uary and the first day of October, or
blue-winged teal, malIard or wood
duck, or any wild duck, wild goose
or brant, at any time betweed the
first day of April and the first day of
October. And it shall be unlawful
for any person at any time to catch
by seine, net or trap, any quail or
Virginia partridge. And it shall be
unlawful for any person by the use
of any swivel or pivot gun or any
other than the common shoulder gun,
or by the aid Of any push boat or
sneak boat used for the carrying of
such gun, to catch, kill, wound or
destroy or to pursue after with such
intent, upon any of the waters, bogs,
rivers, marshes, mud flats, or any
cover to which wild fowls resort
within this State, any wild goose,
wild duck or brant.