The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-03-17
THE OYSTER LAW.
senator Lucas 70 be Chief Con,
sioner--FeGtures Of tha r,.,

- iti SOmmis-
sioner--Features of the e.:,
The ''oyster hin" which passed a.
Legislature. makes it unIawfnl -
any instrument but band-tongs for +af
ing oysters from the public or,to-
grounds Of the State, under pena]ty ds
800 fine, or not less than one wears ~
prlsonment, and forfeiture Of boat -
appliances used. "Nu
Non-residents of the State are not 81
lowed to take oysters in any manner
All boats engaged in taking ovstar,
shall be licensed for period not las
than twelve months. The license for
boat 20 feet or less is $3.50. 25 faat
$500; 80 feet, s.. so; 80 feet and md,
custom house tonnage, g so: all hoats
of custom house tonnage 81 90 nar tor
Persons taking oysters are also =
qulred to obtain individual license and
pay therefor the sum of 81 90. Anv nor
son taking oysters without individual
license is liable to fine Of not less tLan
500 or imprisonment not less than III
months.
tbs unlawful to take oysters from any of
the public grounds Of the State on SIM
days or at night.
One-half of all fines imposed go to the
| lnformer and officer making the arrest
equally; the other half to the oyster
fund OF the State; except in the case of
the patrol force Of the State. The burden
of proof shall be upon the defendant il
all causes arising under the act, 10 show
that oysters were not taken from public
grounds or natural oyster rocks of the
State
The Governor shall appoint one Chief
Commissioner whose term of Office shall
be for two years, and salary $1,000 per
annum; he shall give bond In the sum
Of S5 900. Provision Is also made for
an associate Commissioner, who shall be
ex officio captain Of the patrol force Of
the State; term Of Office two years and
salary $720 per annum. inspectors of
oysters shall be appointed by the Chief
Commissioner at each point where the
market is sufficient to Justify such ap.
pointment, and as many shall be ap-
pointed as may be necessary. Each in
spector shall give bond in the sum of
5000. Each inspector shall receive as
compensation one cent for each bushel
or tub Of oysters measured under his in
> spection, to be paid by the purchaser
: Oyster shells shall be culed upon the
' public grounds from which they are
: taken, and all oysters whose shells meas
/ ure not more than two inches from
7 hinge to mouth and ali shells taken with
2 said oysters shall be returned upon said
: public grounds; and it shall be unlaw
ful for any person to have in his posses
sion for sale any cargo or portion of 3
! cargo of which empty shells and small
> oysters shall amount to more than II
per cent. of said cargo, under penalty O
+ fine or imprisonment.
: All oysters measured in this State
: shall be measured n one buShul tub a
bushel tub, or a thIee-bushel tub; clrcu
. lar, with straight sides and bottom.
, half bushel tub shall measure from in
!, side to inside fifteen inches across the
! TOP, thirteen inches from inside to inside
!. across the bottom, and seventeen inche
f. diagonal from inside chime to top. !
: bushel tub shall measure eighteen inche
from in side to inside across the top, six
, teen inches aud half from inside to in
side across the bottom, and twenty-one in
ches diagonal from inside chime to top j.
three-bushel tub tub shall measur
twenty four inches across the top iron
y inside to inside, twenty-five inches fron
I, inside to inside across the bottom, an
= twenty-nine and one-quarter inches dl
io agonal from inside chime to top.
I, Onslow county is exempted from th
~ provisions of the bill