CHAP. 341.—An ACT to regulate the taking of fish from streams west
of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Approved March 14, 1912.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be unlawful for any person to catch or destroy, in the
waters in anv counties west of the Blue Ridge mountains, or to
have in his possession, any black bass, large or small mouth, be-
tween the first day of Januarv and the first day of July follow-
ing, or any brook or mountain trout or rainbow trout between
the first day of September and the first day of April following,
or to catch or destroy any of them at any time in any way except
by angling with hook and line, and any black bass, large or small
mouth, or brook or mountain trout or rainbow trout caught at
any time in any way except by angling with hook and line, shall
be returned to the water immediately with as little injury as
possible, provided that it shall be lawful for any person to use a
net commonly known as a “landing net” to land any black bass or
brook or mountain trout or rainbow trout hooked by lawful
angling with hook and line.

It shall be unlawful for any person to retain any black bass,
large or small mouth, of less than seven inches in length, or any
brook or mountain trout or rainbow trout of less than five inches
in length, and all black bass, large or small mouth, or brook or
mountain trout or rainbow trout of less than the lengths specified
herein, shall be returned to the water immediately with as little
injury as possible, and the measurements of fish shall be from
the end of nose to center form of tail.

It shall be unlawful for any person to take in any one day
more than twenty-five black bass, or forty brook or mountain
trout and rainbow trout, or to have in his possession at one time
more than fifty black bass or eighty brook or mountain trout and
rainbow trout.

It shall be unlawful for any non-resident of the State to fish
in any of the waters of the counties west of the Blue Ridge moun-
tains without first procuring a license in the same manner as
provided for non-resident hunting license, except that fee for
fishing license shall be five dollars.

The supervisors of any counties west of the Blue Ridge moun-
tains may shorten the open seasons as herein prescribed and
make other regulations regarding the taking of black bass or
brook or mountain trout or rainbow trout or other fish from the
waters of their respective counties not inconsistent with this act.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a
fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars, or
imprisoned in jail for not more than thirty days, or both fined
and imprisoned at the discretion of the justice or jury trying the
case; provided, the provisions of this act shall not apply to the
counties of Floyd, Washington, Botetourt, Bland, Giles, Bath,
Highland, Augusta and Smyth. .

2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are
hereby repealed.

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