Year: 1877




The following is copy Of the "act for
the protection of game" as passed by
the Legislature of Virginia:


l. Be it enacted By the General Assem-
bly,, That it shall not be lawful for any
person to kill or capture, or offer for sale,
or buy, any partridge or quail, between
the first day of February and the first


lay of November of each year, within
this State nor shall it be lawful to cap
ture partridges at any time by means of
nets or traps of any kind until after the
expiration of two years from the passage
of this act.


2. 1t shall not be lawful for any person
to kill or capture pheasants, or ruffled
grouse, between the first day of Feb
ruary and the first day of August of
each year: nor woodcock between the
first day of February and the first day
of July Of each year; nor robins be-
first day of November of each year; nor
shall it be lawful at any time to kill or
capture any brown thrush, cat bird,
cardinal Tor red) bird, house wren, oriole,
wood robin, blue bird, house martin, or
starting, or to destroy their tests.


3. 1t shall rot be lawful to kill Or cap
ture any wild waterfowl in this State
between the first day of April and the
first day of September of each year, ex-
cept the wild duck, commonly known
and called the summer duck, and except
the wild fowl commonly called sora, or
during the night, that is, between dark
and day-break; nor shall it be lawful to
kill wild waterfowl, except with q. gun
that can be raised at arms length, and
fred from tbs shoulder, without rest.
Wild geese may be killed either during
the day or night. Provided that in no
case shall floating reflectors or lamps be
used in shooting wild geese in the night
time.


L. 1t shall not be lawful to kin or cap
ture wild turkeys between the first day
of February and the 18th day of October
of each year, nor at any time by traps
of any kind.


5. 1t shall not be lawful, for six
years from the passage of this act,
to capture mocking birds, or to buy or
sell the same, and both buyer and seller
shall be subject to the penalty imposed
by this act, and in addition each shall
be fined one dollar for every bird sold
and bought; but this section shall not
apply to any person catching or having
caught the same on his own premises,
unless for sale.


G. Itshall not be lawful for any person
to shoot or in any manner whatsoever
kill or destroy the bird known as the
marsh hen," nor to take its eggs later
in the season, in any year, than the Goth
day of June. Nor shall it be lawful for
any person within the limits of said
county to shoot or in any manner kill or
destroy the bird known as the "willett,"
nor take its eggs later in the season than
the 10th OF July in any year. Nor shall


it be lawful for any person within the


limits of said county to shoot or in any
manner to k i'll or destroy the bird known
as the ''gull or striker" in any year be-
fore the 1st day of September, nor take
their eggs later in the season than the
10th of July. Any person offending
against the provisions of this section
shall forfeit and pay for each offence
not less than five nor more than ten dol
lars, recoverable before justice of the
peace.


7. 1t shall not be lawful to kill or cap
ture deer within this State, between the
18th day OF December and the 18th day
of August of the next succeeding year.


8 Any person offending against the
provisions of this act shall be guilty OF
q misdemeanor, and on conviction
thereof, in any court, or before Justice
of the peace, shall be fined ten dollars
for each offence and shall beimprisened
till said fine is paid, but not exceeding
thirty days. The possession of anv pro-
hibited bird or deer, within the prohibit
ed period mentioned in this act, shall be
held as primo facie evidence of its
violation, and subject the person in pos
session to its penalties.


9. This act shall be given in charge to
the grand jury, at every term of the
court at which regular grand jury may
be empaneled; and it shall be the duty
of the sheriff of the county or corpora
ton in which the offence is committed,
to prosecute the offending party prompt
ly and vigorously; and in every case of
wilful failure to- perform this duty, he
shall, on complaint by any person to the
county or corporation judge, be fined
not less than ten dollars nor more than
twenty dollars.


10. This act shall repeal all acts in
conflict with it, and shall take effect
from and after the 1st day of July next.