Chap. 194.—An ACT to amend and reenact Section 39 of the Game, Inland Fish
and Dog Code of Virginia, as amended, relating to fishing. {H 101]

Approved March 12, 1948

3e it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section thirty-nine of the Game, Inland Fish and Dog
Code of Virginia, as amended, be amended and reenacted as follows:

Section 39. Unlawful to take or attempt to take, possess, sell
or transport fish except as permitted—Unless and until otherwise
provided by a regulation of the Commission, after a public hearing,
in accordance with the provisions of this act, it shall be unlawful
for any person to take or attempt to take any fish in inland waters
other than shad, herring or mullet, except by fishing with a hook
and line or rod and reel, held in the hand, or to catch, trap, take,
capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale,
sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause
to be shipped, deliver for transportation, transport, cause to be
transported, carry or cause to be carried, by any means whatever,
receive for shipment, transport or carriage, or export, or import
at any time or in any manner any species of bass or trout, or the
carcass or any part thereof, except as specifically permitted by this
act and only by the manner or means and within the numbers
stated, except in the counties of Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania, city of
Danville, Charlotte, Campbell, Halifax, Amelia (except between
Vaughn's pond and Meadsville dam), Caroline and King George
it shall be lawful to fish with “fish traps”, or “fish pots” and haul
seines in any and all streams and waters, except in Grassy creek
in Mecklenburg county, providing that no person shall catch fish
with “fish traps” or “fish pots” and haul seines to be sold; provided
further that it shall be unlawful in any and all of such counties
to remove from the waters thereof any bass, perch and trout caught
with fish pots or fish traps or haul seines, and any person so catch-
ing bass, perch and trout shall immediately return the same to the
waters. Any person violating the provisions hereof by not returning
bass, perch and trout to the waters from which caught, shall be
fined not more than ten dollars for each offense. Provided, however,
that the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries shall have the
authority to close any streams or rivers or parts of streams or
rivers in such counties when same shall be stocked with fish by
the Commission.