The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-07
MAY EMPLOY SURVEYORS.
They are alSn authorized TO ennln1

now comprised IN the oSyter fleet at their
discretion.
MAY EMPLOY SURVEYORS.
3. They are also authorized to employ
surveyors to verify, at their option, the
leases of planters who may be holding
bottoms in excess of their lawful assign
ments, and to resurvey and define any
lines of the Baylor survey in dispute. A
sum not to exceed twenty-five hundred
fs2.50O dollars annually has been appro-
priated out OF the oyster fund to meet
the necessary expenses of this act
d. An important amendment to the
oyster laws provides that where lands
have been Inadvertently assigned to
pfarters within the Baylor survey q
sufficient time shall be given the dispos-
seSsed lessee to remove his planted oys-
tiers and shells. Any depreciation on said
grounds before the expiration of said
sufficient time will be punishable as a
larceny.
). Hereafter tongers taking out the
ordinary assessment license-tax on week
Iy sales of oysters will be required to
report to the inspector in person.
g. The outlaw has been amended to
provide for a measurement hereafter Of
three inches from hinge to mouth. instead
of Two and q half inches as before, the
former exemptions as to James River and
the ocean side of Accomac and Northamp-
wick, remaining as before. But further
amendment provides that any person buy
ing, or having in his possession, oysters
OF the prohibited size, or shells taken
from the natural rocks shall be deemed
guilty of violating the law, and that oys-
tiers and shells once passed from the GULL
ing-board to the inside Of the boat, shall
be deemed to have been taken unlawtulIy
Z. The bond OF oyster inspectors has
been reduced from $1,000 to $1,000.
WHO MAY DREDGE.
8. Hereafter all lessees Of oyster plant
ing ground who have paid their rent in
advance, and vino will properly define the
outer lines Of their assignment as oro-
vided for dn the bill, will be allowed to
dredge the same, subject to the discretion
and regulation of the Board CT Fisheries
in ell cases, provided that no dredging
will be parma tied in the rivers and on the
ocean side Of Acconlac ana northampton
counties without special permission in
writing from the board, and that no non
resident boat or crew shall be employed
in such dredging.
g.. "A special license tax will be required
hereafter for taking CLAIMS from their
natural beds for sale OF planting, but any
person taking out the specific tax emitting
him to take oysters will be likewise en-
titled to take clans under the same. The
Ctlm1nlnS TAX WILL De Tue same dS lLs1I
for taking oysters. with the same inspec-
tors fee where only the claiming license
is desired. But there is no close season
provided for clans.
10. On apphca tion of fifty or more crab
bers the Board of Fisheries is authorized
to set apart and designate such bottoms,
not natural rocks, and not assigned as
planting ground, as in the judgment OF
the board may be necessary for the use
and benefit of those licensed to take
crabs.
IL: Certain amendments as to the grad
ing Of depths of water in assessing taSes
on pound nets have been added to the
fishing laws, and the act is now made to
embrace .'all the waters within the jurts-
diction Of the State,'' in order to apply
to net fishing in the Potomac Other
amendments have been embodied that are
not materially impor tant or radical
r. The close season for the ocean side
Of Accomac and Nor Hampton counties
has been changed, and will hereafter en-
brace the period from May 18th to October
1st 1t has also been made unlawful to
rough the rocks on the ocean side of Ac-
c6mac with rakes and scrapes. inayiew o!
the fact that the cull-law does not apply
to that section. and that the rocks there
are being rapidly destroyed.