Chap. 217.—An ACT to Prevent the Placing of Obstructions in the Mat-
taponi and Pamunkey Rivers.

Approved March 18, 1872.

1. Be it enacted by the gencral assembly, That if any person
shall fell any timber, or make or cause to be made any weir,
hedge, or other obstruction in the channel or in the navigable
waters of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers, he shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be tined not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars, and
in addition thereto, in the discretion of the county court, may
be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding six
months: provided, that nothing in this act shall be construed
to prevent placing fish traps, weirs and nets in the shoal
waters of these rivers, below navigable point.

2. That the justices of the peace in the counties where said
offences may be committed, shall have concurrent jurisdiction
with the county courts of all offences committed under this
act, and the informer, if there be one, shall have one-half of
the fine imposed.

3. Any person convicted under the provisions of this act by
a justice of the peace, shall have the right to appeal to the
county court, and shall, unless let to bail, be committed by the
justice to jail, until the next term of such court, and the wit-
nesses shall be recognized to appear at said court; and the
justice shall return and file the papers with the clerk of said
court, whether the appeal be allowed or not; and upon the
trial of such appeal the accused shall be entitled to a jury if
he demands it.

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