Chap. 46.—An ACT to declare Russ’ Rock and Little Carter’s Rock, situated
in the Rappahannock river, between the shores of Richmond and Essex
counties, a natural oyster rock, bed and shoal and to include the same
within the Baylor survey. [H B 44]

Approved February 16, 1918.

Whereas, the natural oyster rocks, beds or shoals, situated in the
ppahannock river, between the shores of Richmond and Essex
inties, commonly known as “Russ’ Rock” and “Little Carter’s
ck,” respectively, were inadevertently omitted from the Baylor
vey, by reason of the fact that the natural growth of oysters on
d rocks had then been recently destroyed by a freshet in said
ters ; and,

Whereas, J. B. Rains has applied to the oyster inspector of
-hmond county, in the manner prescribed by law, to have the said
‘ural oyster rock, bed or shoal, known as Russ’ Rock assigned
him for his private use and benefit, and R. Carter Wellford has,
like manner, applied to said oyster inspector to have said natural
ter rock, bed or shoal, known as Little Carter’s Rock, assigned
him for his private use and benefit; and,

Whereas, the said oyster rocks have become valuable to the pub-
aS & means of revenue to the poor, and a source of food supply
the people residing near the adjacent shores of said river, and the
iJ. B. Rains and R. Carter Wellford, in recognition of these
ts, are now willing to surrender their claims to said oyster rocks
to the State for public use, provided the same are protected by law
in the same manner as other natural oyster rocks in the waters of
the Commonwealth:

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That all
of Russ’ Rock and Little Carter’s Rock, as hereinbefore described.
be, and the same are hereby, declared to be natural oyster rocks, beds
and shoals and unassignable to anv person for private use, in the
same manner and to the same intent as if the same had _ been
embraced within the original Baylor survey; and the commissioner
of fisheries and shell fish commissioner are hereby directed, as soon
as practicable, to have said natural oyster rocks, beds and _ shoals
properly and accurately surveyed and a plat of said survey, recorded
in the clerks’ offices of Richmond and Essex counties. The expenses
of making said surveys and recording said plats shall be paid by
said commissioner of fisheries out of the general oyster funds of the
State, and the said natural oyster rocks, beds and shoals shall hence-
forth be exempt from assignment to any person.

2. No oysters shall be removed from said rocks measuring less
than two and one-fourth inches from hinge to mouth, under the
penalties prescribed by the existing laws of the State, for illegal
culling or roughing oysters.