Chap. 96.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 3224 of the Code of Virginia
in relation to oyster grounds. [H B 6]]

Approved March 4, 1926.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tion thirty-two hundred and twenty-four of the Code of Virginia, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 3224. Assignment of other planting grounds; surveys;
marking.—The residue of such water front in excess of what is already
assigned or is reserved in the preceding section for the riparian owner,
and the residue of the beds of the bays, rivers and creeks and shores
of the sea other than natural oyster beds, rocks or shoals, as defined
by law, may be occupied for the purpose of planting or propagating
oysters thereon, by any resident of the State, or by any corporation
chartered under the laws of this State, for the purpose of oyster cul-
ture and the oyster business, and it shall be lawful for nonresidents to
be stockholders in such a corporation; provided, said corporation em-
ploy only resident labor in planting, cultivating and marketing the
oysters grown on the ground or land so occupied; and provided its
principal place of business for selling and marketing said oysters be
maintained within this State and the provisions of this section shall
be incorporated in any lease of oyster grounds in this State to any
such corporation, and the violation thereof shall forfeit the lease. It
shall be the duty of any such resident, or any such corporation, de-
siring to obtain a location for planting or propagating oysters in any
portion of such water front and beds of the bays, rivers and creeks and
shores of the sea aforesaid, to apply to the inspector of the district in
which such land lies to have the location ascertained designated, sur-
veyed and assigned, and sixty days after the posting of the copy re-
quired in the succeeding section, the inspector shall notify the county
surveyor or such surveyor as may be designated by the commission
of fisheries, to proceed to survey said ground conforming to the rules
and regulations of the commission of fisheries and make a plat in dup-
licate of the same, and the ground shall be marked, at the cost of the
applicant, at the time the survey is made, and at the direction of the
surveyor, with suitable stakes, smooth and. free from snags and spurs,
and suitable stakes shall be kept by the lessee in their proper places
at all times during the continuance of such lease so as to conform ac-
curately to the survey. And should such stakes be removed, rot
down, or be carried away, the lessee shall replace them in their proper
places, and if he fails to do so within thirty days after being notified
by the inspector of the district in which the ground lies, the said lessee
shall have no claim against any person for trespassing on said ground
in any way. |