Chap. 696.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 13 of an act approved March
5, 1888, for the preservation of oysters, and to obtain revenue for the privilege
of taking oysters from the waters of the commonwealth, and to amend and re-
enact section 2148 of an act approved March 6, 1804, in relation to oysters and
to add independent sections.

Approved March 8, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
thirteen of an act approved March fifth, eighteen hundred and eighty-
eight, for the preservation of oysters, and to obtain revenue fer the privi-
lege of taking them within the waters of the commonwealth, and to
amend and re-enact section twenty-one hundred and forty-eight of an
act approved March fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, in relation
to oysters, and to add independent sections, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

§ 2148. It shall not be lawful for any person to take or catch oysters
from any of the natural oyster beds, rocks orshoalsin any of the waters
of this commonwealth with tongs, or in any other way, from the twenty-
fifth day of April to the first day of September, except in Broad bay,
Long creek, Linkhorne bay, or any of the tributaries thereof, in the
county of Princess Anne; the prohibited time shall be all of the year
except the months of October and November; nor shall it be lawful for
any person at any time to catch or take oysters on Sunday in any man-
ner, or from one hour after sunset of any day to one hour before sunrise
of the succeeding day: provided, that nothing in this act shall impair
or in any manner affect an act of the general assembly of Virginia ap-
proved March fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, to regulate the
taking of oysters in the Potomac river.

Any person violating the above provisions shall be fined not less than
ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offence.

This section shall not be construed as prohibiting the owner of planted
oysters from working on or changing the location of said planted oysters,
or from shipping the same to market at any time at the option of the
owner thereof. But no dredging to be permitted on this private oyster
grounds, even by the owner of said planted oysters at any time: pro-
vided, however, that nothing in this clause shall be construed to pre-
vent the occupant of planting grounds in the Chesapeake bay, or the
occupant or lessee of not less than one hundred contiguous acres in
Tangier sound, Hampton roads and James river from dredging his
planted oysters during the lawful season for dredging in this state. It
is further provided that if any person carry or attempt to carry any
seed oysters out of thisstate at any time he shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof be fined not exceeding five
hundred dollars for each offence.

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