Chap. 124.—An ACT declaring certain ground under water known as
Hog Island flats, open and eligible for the planting and sowing of
oysters.

Approved February 14, 1888.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
all that portion of Hog Island flats and the grounds thereof, '
lying in and adjacent to the county of Northumberland, com-
mencing at the eastern mouth of Judith’s sound and running
along the shore line of Hog Island at low-water mark to the
western mouth Judith’s creek; thence along the shore line to
Thicket point, in said county, and included between the said
low-water mark along said shore line, and a line running
from said Thicket point an east by north direction to a point
opposite the eastern end of Hog Island; thence a southeast
direction to buoy number five on the eastern end of Hog Is-
land bar; thence to the point of beginning, be and they are
hereby declared open and eligible for the planting of oysters:
for the period of twenty years from the passage of this act, |
subject to the provisions hereinafter contained.

2. That if any person resident within this state shall be:
desirous of sowing or planting oysters on any of said flats or |
grounds hereinbefore described, such person may apply to the
inspector of oysters for the county in which said flats or
grounds are located, to which they are adjacent, stating as
near as may be the quantity proposed to be planted, and the
said inspector shall assign to such person, on such portion of
of said flats or grounds as may be agreed upon between them,
so much of the said flats or grounds as may be necessary for
the quantity of oysters so proposed to be planted or sowed.
Such person shall cause the same to be marked and laid off:
with suitable stakes according to assignment, and thereafter ‘
the exclusive right of planting or sowing oysters on such
grounds so assigned, shall be vested in such person for the -
period of one year, with the privilege of renewing the same '
from year to year upon such terms as may be prescribed by
law while this act shall be in force.

3. That where any of the said flats or grounds hereinbefore |
described are now used or occupied by any person a resident
of this state for the planting or sowing of oysters, the inspec-
tor, in making assignment of such ground so used or occupied,
shall give preference to such person or persons so using or
ecm ne the same as aforesaid.

4. That all oysters sowed or planted on the flats or grounds |
aforesaid, shall be subject to the tax and restrictions imposed
upon planted oysters, and the planting thereof prescribed by
an act entitled an act for the preservation of oysters, and to
obtain revenue for the privilege of taking them within the
waters of this commonwealth, approved Ntarch fourth, eigh-
teen hundred and eighty-four, and amendments thereto, so
far as applicable thereto.

5. This act shall be in force from its passage. (