Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-02-28
POTOMAC RIVER BILLS.
Text Ofthe Bills Agreed on Between
the Maryland and Virginia Com
missions which will Probably
be Enacted into Law.
A BILL TO PROVIDE EACULL LAW
FOR THE POTOMAC RIVER.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Gem
eral Assembly that all oysters taken
from any natural rocks, beds or shoals
in the waters of the Potomac river shall
be culled on their natural rocks, beds
or shoals as taken, and oysters whose
shells measure less than two and one
half inches in length, measuring from
hinge to mouth, and oil shells shall be
included in said culling and replaced
upon said rocks, beds or shoals, provided
that oysters once passed from the cutler
less than the prohibited size, and all
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 a marketable
oyster as TO render removal impossible
without destroying the young oyster,
then it shall not be necessary toremove
it. And it shall be unlawful for any
person to take, buy or sell the small
oysters and shells from the natural
rocks, beds and shoals as aforesaid, or
to take, buy, sell or have in possession
oysters less than two and one-half
inches in length from hinge to mouth.
Whenever any inspector or other officer
shall have reason to believe that this
Act has been violated with reference to
the culling of oysters, said Inspector or
other officer is hereby authorized to
examine the cargo of any boat or vessel,
and if upon examination of said cargo
the said Inspector or other officer shall
find that five per centum or more of
said cargo shall consist of shells and
oysters whose shells measure less than
two and one-half inches in length,
measuring from hinge to mouth, the
captain of the boat or other person in
charge of said boat shall be deemed to
have violated this Act, and upon con-
viction, if of dredge-boat or a vender
of oysters, shall be fined not less than
fifty dollars, nor more than two hundred
and fifty dollars, or confined in jail not
less than thirty days nor more than six
months, or both, and said cargo con-
fiscated and returned to the natural
beds under the supervision of the oyster
or other officer making the
arrest, and the boat or vessel on which
said oysters are found shall be held as
security for the payment of said fine;
If the boat be one in which only oyster
tongs are used, the said captain or other
person in charge shall be fined not less
than twenty-five dollars nor more than
seventy-five dollars, or confined in Jail
not less than fifteen days nor more than
three months, or both, and said cargo con-
fiscated and returned to the natural beds
under the supervision of the oyster in
spector or other officer making the arrest.
And the boat or vessel on which said
oysters are found shall be held as Sc
curity for the payment of said fine;
provided, however, that when any per-
son shall be found with oysters in viola.
tion of this Act he shall be presumed to
be dredger or vender of oysters, and
If he claims to be tonger the burden
shall be upon said person to show that
he is tonger. Provided that this Act
shall not apply to that portion of the
Potomac river above line drawn from
Swami Point, in Charles county, Mary
land, to the present passenger steamer
pier in the town of Colonial Beach, in
Westmoreland county, Virginia. Be-
cause of the necessity that legislation
regulating the taking of oysters in the
Potomac river shall be concurred in by
the States of Maryland and Virginia, il
is further provided that this Act shall
take effect from the date of passage
provided, concurrent legislation has
been passed by the General Assembly
of Maryland, or if not passed then, i'm
mediately upon the passage thereof.
SEC. 2. All Acts or parts of Acts ii
conflict with this Act are hereby re
pealed.
TO REGULATE THE TAKING OF SECT
OYSTERS.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly that it shall he law
full between the first day of January
and the fifteenth day of May to TAX,
oysters of any size with ordinary oys
ter tongs from the natural rocks, bed.
and shoals in the Potomac River abov,
line drawn from Swami Point, il
Charles county, Maryland, to the pres
ent steamboat passenger pier in Sh,