CHAPTER 290

An Act to amend and reenact § 62-8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
authority of the Attorney General as to beds of certain waters of the
Commonwealth.

[H 434]

Approved March 12, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
ey That § 62-3 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as

ollows:

§ 62-3. Leasing of the beds of certain waters.—The Attorney General
with the consent and approval of the Governor, shall have authority to
grant easements in and to lease the beds of such of the waters within the
jurisdiction of the State, without the Baylor survey, as they deem proper,
for periods not exceeding five years, with the right to renew the same for
additional periods not exceeding five years each to such persons and upon
such terms as they deem expedient and proper, which easements and leases
* may in addition to any other rights authorize the grantees and lessees
to prospect for and take from the bottoms covered thereby, oil, gas, and
such other minerals and mineral substances as are therein specified; pro-
vided, that no such easement or lease shall in any way affect or interfere
with the rights vouchsafed to the people of the State concerning fishing,
fowling, and the catching and taking of oysters and other shellfish, in and
from the bottoms so leased, and the waters covering the same. All ease-
ments granted and leases made under the authority granted by this section,
shall be executed in the name and for and on behalf of the State, by the
Attorney General, and shall be countersigned by the Governor. The Com-
missioner of Fisheries and the Attorney General shall make reports to the
General Assembly of all such easements granted or leases so made, such
reports to be made on or before the first day of December preceding the
convening of each regular session thereof.