The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-01
new FISH laws
moi UNDERSTOOD N !. !. { !
Many al over Of the Sport
In This State Is In a
Quandary.

The new fish law that went into
eject Mayg24 are less understood than
any % those enacted by the last reg
nlarBsession Of the West Virginia leg
tslature: The sections referring to
fishing and obtaining license therefor
are eRpe tally; misunderstood.
Section No.s44 is one Of the most
important ones Of the season, and one
with which those considering safety
ArBt will get acquainted. 1t says:
Itsshall6 be unlawful for any person
not q citizen OF the United States OF
America, or not a bonifide resident OF
THIS state, or any corporation doing
business I'm this state TO catch or de-
stroyf any of the fish in the creeks or
ftVers of this state, or subject to the
Jurisdiction thereof, without first hav-
Ing obtained a license SO to do. and
then only by means whereby and dur
tng the respective periods when y
shall be lawful to do so. Such license
shall he procured in the following
manner; sto-wit:
Rrhe# applicant shall go before the
clerk OF the county court OF some
other county OF this state and fill out
g blank application, to be provided
by the forest, game and fish wardens.
stating his name, age, occupation.
weight, height, place Of residence and
color Of hair, eyes and complexion,
said application shall be subscribed
by the applicant in ink and sworn to
by the applicant before said clerk.
and shall aver that his statements
made herein are true and correct to the
best OF his knowledge and belief; the
applic ant shall thereupon pay to said
hcounty8 clerk the sum of five dollars as
q ltcenses tax.
Thegsaid clerk shall thereupon issue
tofsaid applicant a license OF the form
90 be furnished by the said warden,
emit Ting such applicant TO catch and
take fish according to law, from any
Of the creeks or rivers in this state;
provided \ however, that such applt-
can't may fill out said application and
SIN and swear to the same before
some notary public or Justice of this
peace Of the county wherein such ap
pIfcation9is made and send the same
tossaid clerk together with the amount
ofssatdE license tax and such clerk shall
send him such license. Such license
shall be signed by said clerk and
shall bear the seal of the county
court OF the county in4which the same
Is issued and no fee shall be charged
therefor by the said clerk. All such
license taxes shall be paid by the said
clerk tq the state treasurer on the first
dhyEofae each month for the month next
Preceding: No person to whom such
license has been issued shall exercise
the privilege thereby conferred with.
out at the time having such license
la hts actual possession, and he shall
exhibit the came on demand of any
OFFICER Of this state or owner. tenant
or Jesse of any land upon which
such peFsongi is fishing, provided, how.
ever that nothing herein contained
shal1s construed to require the nom
resident owner of any lands in this
state or his children to obtsin such
license in order to lawfully fish upon
snchs lands.
tssha1l mot be lawful for any person
20 catch or destroy any Of the fish III
the creeks or rivers in this state by
any other means than hook and line
including IA trout line having the hook
thereon no less than two feet apart.
&c sian not be lawful for any person
to have in his possession or to set
andGmaintain anywhere in this state
OF many waters subject to the juris-
dietion thereof, any seines, trap OF
device whereby fish may be taken or
caught. Nor shall it be lawful for any
person to catch or to have in his pos