Chap. 545.—An ACT for the protection of fish in the Shenandoah river and its
tributaries, approved March 4, 1892.

Approved March 2, 1894.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
be unlawful for any person to catch, destroy or take any fish of any
description, by any method or means, in or from the Shenandoah
river or its tributaries between the first day of April and the fif-
teenth day of May of each year.

2. It shall be unlawful to use fish berries, lime, giant powder, dyna-
mite or other explosive substance for the destruction of fish, or know-
ingly or willfully to cast any noxious substance or matter into the
Shenandoah river or any of its tributaries by which fish therein may
be destroyed.

3. It shall not be lawful to kill or capture in the Shenandoah
river or its tributaries black bass or pond bass by any manner or
means, at any time, other than with a hook and line (which shall
not be construed to include a trot line), and then subject to the pro-
visions of section one of this act.

4, Dip-nets and stir-nets may be used in taking and catching fish
other than bass and mountain trout from the said river and its trib-
utaries, except within the prohibited period of each year. Gigs and
spears may be used in killing and taking of fish other than bass and
mountain trout from the Shenandoah river and its tributaries from
November first to December tenth of each year, but at no other time.

5. Fish-pots may be used for the purpose of catching or taking
fish other than bass in the Shenandoah river and its tributaries,
except within the prohibited period: provided the dam is left open
on one side not less than thirty feet from the bank at low-water mark,
and in case of a dam or other obstruction, where fish-ladders are re-
quired by law, if the party whose duty it is to construct such fish-
ladder shall fail to do so, any other person or persons who may be
aggrieved thereby may construct the same at the cost of the afore-
said party and recover the same on motion before a justice, if less than
one hundred dollars, and on motion in the circuit court if more than
one hundred dollars, but this shal] not relieve the party from crim-
inal liability for said failure.

6. Minnow-nets may be used in any of the tributaries to the She-
nandoah river for the purpose of taking small fish to be use for bait
in angling.

7. Any person violating this act, or any of tbe provisions thereof,
shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five
dollars for each offence.

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