Chap. 318.—An ACT to protect the spawning beds of fish in the waters of
Alexandria county, in the Potomac river and its tributaries, in tide-water
and above tide-water.

' Approved February 13, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
be unlawful to capture or kill fish of any kind at any time of the vear
in the waters of Alexandria county, in the Potomac river and its tribu-
taries, in tide-water and above tide-water, by means of trap, drag, drag-
net, gill-net, set-net, pound-net, out-line, or trot-line, or by means of
explosives, drugs, or poisons: provided, that nothing in this act shall be
construed to prevent the commissioner of fish and fisheries, or his
agents, from taking fish from said waters, in any manner desired or at
any time, for scientific purposes or for purposes of propagation, and that
none of this act shall apply to persons employed in catching young
catfish, smelt, gudgeon, chub or fall-fish, bull-minnows, or pike-smelt
for use as bait in fishing with hook and line, commonly known as
angling: and provided further, that any person so engaged in taking
such fish for use as bait in fishing with hook and line or angling, shall
first have obtained a written permit from one of the supervisors of said
county to take such fish for such purpose and for no other purpose.

2. Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this act
shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than fiftv
dollars nor less than five dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail
or work-house for a period not exceeding thirty davs for each and everv
offense so committed, at the discretion of the justice or jury who shall
try such cases.

3. That all nets, boats, or other contrivances or paraphernalia used in
violating this act, or any provision thereof, shall be confiscated and
turned over to the sheriff of said county, who shall dispose of such
confiscated property at public auction to the highest bidder.

4, That any person of said county or other person furnishing infor-
mation leading to the conviction of any offender of this act before the
proper official, shall be paid one-half of the fine collected, and the
remainder of such fine, together with the proceeds of the sale of the con-
fiscated property, to be turned over to the supervisors of said county
for the repair of the roads of said county and for no other purpose.

5. That all acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act, or any part
of this act, are hereby repealed.

6. That this act shall be in force from the day of its passage.