Chap. 516.—An ACT for the protection of fish in Smyth and Washington
counties.

Approved February 27, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to kill or
injure any fish by the use of dynamite or any other explosive, or by
placing fishberries or other poisonous substances into the waters of
Washington and Smyth counties. ;

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to take or catch fish by
means of traps, nets, seines, harpoons, grab-hooks, or any other
means except by hook and line in any of said waters, except that it
shall be lawful to catch minnows for bait by means of a hand-net;
and for four years after the United States fish commission shal!
have placed in the south fork of Holston river or its tributaries
California trout or other fish for the stocking of said streams it
shall be unlawful to take from said streams, or destroy in any way,
such fish or their increase within the limits of Smyth county.

3. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of section
one of this act shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not less than
ten dollars nor more than twenty-five dollars; and any one violating
the provisions of section two of this act shall be fined not less than
five dollars nor more than ten dollars.

4. The provisions and penalties of this act shall not apply to
manufacturing plants located upon or near said streams where the
injury to fish results from the wash from said plants; provided that
all reasonable precautions, so far as practicable, shall be used to
prevent said injury.

5. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act, or any sec-
tion or provision thereof, are hereby repealed.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.