Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-11-28
SYNOPSIS OF GAME LAWS
For the Guidance Of Sportsmen in
West Virginia.

An Interesting Pamphlet Published
by T. M. Darrah Containing Much
Valuable information to Fisher
men and Hunters-The New Laws
and the Penalties fer Their Viola
ton.
West Virginia is a very inviting field
for the hunter and fisherman, and every
year many sportsmen from adjoining
States go into the interior counties for
the purpose of indulging their fondness
for these pursuits. There appears to
be a general lack of information con-
corning the laws of the State touching
upon the matter. Sportsmen Will
therefore find invaluable a little PAM
phlet which has been prepared by Mr..
T. M. Darrah, of this city, giving in
concise form the West Virginia laws.
Mr.. Darrah is an enthusiastic devotee
of the rod and gun, and equally enthu-
siastic in his advocacy of measures to
prevent the determination of game and
fish within the borders of West Vir-
ginia The recent State Legislature
adopted a number of measures at the
solicitation of prominent sportsmen,
which will accomplish the desired re-
suit These and the former laws are
presented in abstract form in Mr.. OAR
rah's pamphlet, together with the game
laws of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Mary
land. The synopsis of West Virginia
laws follows:
No wild deer can be anot before the
18th day of OctrJer, 1901, and then
only from October 18th to December
LIST.
No quail or pheasants can be shot
until the 10th day of November, 1899,
and then only from November 10th I'M
til December 18th.
No wild turkey can be shot until the
18th day of October, 1899, and then only
from October 18th to January LIST.
Open season for shooting snipe is
from March LIST to July LIST.
Open season fer shooting woodcock is
from July 18th to November LIST.
Open season for shooting wild ducks
is from October LIST to April LIST.
Squirrels and rabbits are not protect
ed, and can be shot at any time.
OpGu SGdSOu lUI Catching JAIN HSii
or salmon with hook and line is from
the 18th day of June to the 18th day OF
April.
Open season for catching trout with
hook and line is from the LIST day OF
January to the list day of September.
Open season for catching bass or pike
with hook and line is from June 18th
to April 18th.
Open season for catching trout with
hook ard line is from the LIST day of
January to the LIST day of September.
Open season for catching bass or pike
with hook and line is from June 18th
to April 18th.
SEEMING is allowed in the rivers Of
this State from November 18th to
March list, and is not allowed in the
creeks at any time, only minnow seines
(for use of bait). The meshes of seines
used in the rivers of this State shall be
three inches in extension, or one and
one-half inches from knot to knot.
No seine can be drawn within one hun
rred yards Of the mouth Of any creek
or small stream which empties into any
of the rivers OF this State. The fine for
using dynamite in any of our streams
for the purpose of destroying fish is not
less than one hundred dollars nor more
than two hundred, and confinement in
the county jail not more than nine
months nor less than one month.
No wild deer, turkey, quail or pleas
ants can be shipped out of this State.
The use of ferrets is prohibited for
the purpose of driving rabbits from
their burrows. The fine is not less
than five dollars nor more than twenty
dollars.
Every county constable, deputy SER
geant and market master are made Off
GERS Of the law for the enforcement of
the game laws, and if any Of the afore-
said officers fail to prosecute the Offend
ers, after being duly notified of such
violation, they are held liable in pen
atty of twenty-five dollars. All fines
and fees, after paying court expenses,
one-half goes to the informer and the
ether half to the person makingd he ar
rest
Close season for bass, pike and SAL
mon, while spawning in the Potomac
river and it's tributaries, is from April
18th to June 1st. Maryland and Vir-
ginia have the same dates. This law
was passed jointly by Maryland, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia. Fish cannot
be caught between the above dates
(spawning season..
1t shall be unlawful for any person
or persons to be found upon the creeks
or small streams of this State where
fish are taken, with seins Except min
now seines) in their possession, and if
SO found such possession shall be prima
facie evidence that the same was used
unlawfullly, and it remains for the per-
son or persons to prove that said seine
was not used unlawfully; and if any
person has good reason to believe that
seining is carried on unlawfully he has
leave to sue out search warrant
against the person or persons suspected
of keeping said seine, and when found
shall be prima facie evidence that tie
same was used unlawfully, unless the
owner can produce evidence to satisfy
the Justice that such seine was not
used unlawfully. The fine is not less