Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-08-28
OYSTER LAWS.
SHere Are the New Oyster Laws. rs
POUND IN the New Acts or Assem-
biy Just Out.

bly, Just Out
~s2l4S. Limitation as to time OF
taking oysters aud in relation to pat.
emit tongs.-Hereafter it shall not bs
lawful for any person 10 take OF
catch oysters from any of che natural
oyster beds, rocks, and shoals, in an,
of the waters of this Common wealth
with topgs, or in any other way, from
the first day of April to the fifteenth
day of September of each year, ex.
cept that in Broad bay, Longcreek
Lickhorn bay, or in any of the tribu.
taries thereof, in the county of Prin,
cess Anne, the prohibited time shall
be all OF the year, except the month,
OF October and November. or at am,
time to use or employ patent tong.
for the purpose of taking or catch
ing oysters or shells from the naturaI
rocks, beds, or shoals Of the State
And If any person be found upor
the natural rocks, beds or shoals O.
this Commonwealth during the pro
hibited season, or during the nigh
time of the open season with tones
or other devices for taking or catch
ing oysters, the same shall be prins
facie evidence of the violation of thi,
act by the person so found therein
Any person. violating the provisions
of this act shall, upon Conviction
thereof, be fined not less than twenty,
live. dollars, nor more than one
hundred dollars for the first offense
and for any repetition thereof, shalI
De confined in jail not less than ter
days nor more than six months. Thi,
section shall not be construed as pro.
hibitng the owner of planted oysters
from working on, or changing the
location of said planted oysters. o.
from shipping the came to market a
any time at the option Of the owner
; IL, Acts of 1899, amended April
"a, 1903, as follows All oyster,
taken from any natural rocks, beds,
or shoals, in the waters of this State
except on the eastern side of Acco.
mac and Northampton counties. shall
oe culied on their natural rocks,
beds, or shoals, as taken, and oysters
whose shells measure less than three
inches IN length, measuring from
hinge to mouth, and all SHELLS shall
be included in said culling and re.
placed upon said rock, beds, or shoals:
provided, that oysters once passed
from the culling board to the inside
OF the boat less than the prohibited
size, and ali shells shall be considered
as not having been culled according
to the provisions of this act: provided,
that when small oysters are adhering
so closely to the shell of the market
able oysters as to render removal i'm
possible without destroying the young
oyster, then it shall not be necessary
TO remove it. And it shall be urlaw
tui for any person to take, buy, or
sell the small oysters and shells so
taken as aforesaid from the natural
rocks, beds, and shoals as aforesaid.
Any person violating the provisions
OF this act, either by removing from
the said rocks, beds, or shoals, or by
buying or selling oysters less than
three inches IN length, from hinge
to mouth, or shells as hereinbefore
mentioned, shall be deemed guilty of
a mlsdemeanor, and, on conviction
thereof, shall be fined not less than
ten dollars, nor more than one hum
dred dollars; provided, however. that
so much of this section as prohibits
the catching and taking. Of oysters
whose shells measure less than three
inches, from hinge to mouth, shall
not apply to James river above a line
drawn from Days point, in the
county of Isle of Wight, to Deem
creek. in the county of Warwick. In
addition to the penalty above pre-
scrihed, the license of any person
found removing from the natural
rocks, beds, or shoals, oysters of the
size prohibited, or shells as aforesaid.
shall be revoked, and such person
shall not be again licensed to take or
catch oysters in this State for a
period of one year after the commits
sion OF such oifense. And the having
at one time of more than one bushei
of oysters and shells on the cullinp
board OF any person oystering upon
the natural rocks, beds, or shoals, or
the attempt of such person to escape
or to throw oysters or shells over
board into the water, otherwise than
In the ordinary process of culling,
upon the approach of an oyster in-
spector, or police boat, shall De prima
facie evidence of the violation of this
section. las