CHAP. 382.—An ACT for the further protection of fish in the county
of Patrick.

Approved March 3, 1S86.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall not be lawful for any person to catch or destroy any
trout, or take them from the waters of Dan river and its tribu-
taries above the falls at the pinnacle of Dan, in Patrick county;
by means of any seine, net or trap, at any time in the year,
within the next ten years from the passage of this act.

2. It shall not be lawful for any person to kill or capture
mountain trout, in said waters, between the fifteenth of Septem-
ber and the first day of April of each year, by any process
whatever, except by angling with a hook and line, within the
said period of ten years.

3. It shall not be lawful for any person to have in his posses-
sion, during the time in which the taking of the same is for-
bidden in the foregoing sections, any net, seine or trap, or fish
therein forbidden to be taken, or to buy or sell, or to make use of
any such fish-net or trap, within said period, under the penalties
of this act, and said possession, sale or use shall be deemed
prima facie evidence of its violation. | ,

4. Any person or corporation offending against the first, sec-
ond or third section of this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor;
and on conviction thereof in any court, or before any justice of
the peace, shall be fined in the sum of twenty-five dollars for
each offence, and shall be imprisoned till said fine 1s paid, but
not exceeding thirty days; and it shall be the duty of the
sheriff, or any constable of said county, to prosecute the offend-
ing party promptly and vigorously; and in every case of wilful
failure to perform this duty, he shall, on complaint by any per-
son to the county judge, be fined not less than ten nor more
than twenty dollars. In addition to the penalty above specified,
the offending party shall forfeit all nets and other illegal con-
trivances, pay all costs of suit, and the charges incident to the
capture of said illegal contrivances. |

5. It shall be the duty of the judge of said county to give
this act in charge to every regular grand jury, whose duty it
shall be. to present every infraction thereof.
6. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are
hereby repealed.
7. This act shall be in force from its passage.