Chap. 862.—An ACT to lay off, designate, and survey the natural oyster-beds,
rocks, and shuals in York river, in the county of King and Queen.

Approved March 3, 1498.

Whereas by an act to protect the oyster industry of the commonwealth,
approved February twenty-ninth, cighteen hundred and ninety-two, as
amended by an act approved March second, eighteen hundred and
ninety-four, it was provided that all the natural oyster-rocks, beds, and
shoals should be surveyel and be embraced in the geodetic survey; and

Whereas under said act it was directed that commissioners appointed
by the county court were the judges of what is a natural rock; and

Whereas the county court of King and Queen failed to appomt com-
missioners, and no survey was ever made, and the survey of natural
rocks can only be made now by an act of the general assembly in order
for the natural oyster rocks in the county of King and Queen to be em-
braced in the geodetic survey: now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Vi irginia, That the county
court of King and Queen county may, at its discretion, appoint three com-
missioners, whose duty it shall be to go on all the natural oyster rocks,
beds, and shoals in York river, in the county of King and Queen, and take
with them the county surveyor, or any competent surveyor, and the
oyster inspector of King and Queen county, and lay off and designate
by metes and bounds all of said natural oyster rocks, beds, and shoals,
and cause the surveyor to make an accurate survey and plots of the
same, and when said survey and plots are made the said commissioners
shall make this report to the county court, with said surveys and plots
accompanying said report: provided, however, that nothing in this act
shall permit a survey of any grounds which have been assigned to any
citizen of thiscommonwealth for the purpose of planting and propagating
oysters, or in any manner impair any vested interest in such grounds ac-
quired by such citizen under the laws of Virginia regulating the assign-
ment of oyster planting ground.

2. The report of said commissioners, with the accompanying survey
and plots, shall lie for exceptions from the term of the court at which it
was filed until the succeeding term. Hxceptions to said report must be
filed at least ten days before ‘the commencement of the term of the court
at which they are to be heard. The exceptions are to be heard and de-
cided by the court on evidence given in open court: provided, this act
shall not interfere with vested rights acquired under the laws of Vi irginia,
but to have in the geodetic survey all the natural rocks in King and
Queen county as in the other counties of the commonwealth.
3. Any person interested may file exceptions to said report: provided,
he shall pay his own costs incurred in filing and hearing exceptions,
regardless of the decision of the court on said exceptions.

4. At the final hearing by the court on the report, either party may
appeal to a higher court and the appeal to be taken as provided by law.
The court shall direct that the plots and surveys be filed in the clerk’s
office in King and Queen county, and these plots and surveys shall have
the same force and virtue and stand on the same footing, in every par-
ticular, as the geodetic survey in the various counties of the common-
wealth now has under the act to protect the oyster industry of the coim-
monwealth, approved February twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and
ninety-two, as amended by an act approved March second, eighteen
hundred and ninety-four.

5. The county court shall fix reasonable compensation for services
rendered by commissioners, surveyor, inspector, and chainmen, to be
paid by the treasurer of the county of King and Queen on the certificate
of the board of supervisors of said county.

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