Chap. 188.—An ACT to provide for the Protection of Fish in James
River.

Approved March 20, 1875.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That it shall not be lawful for any person to catch, destroy
or take any fish in or from the waters of the James river or
any of its tributaries above tide-water, or of the James River
and Kanawha canal, by means of any seine or net, dip-net,
stir-net, set-net, or set-line, trap, fish-pot, or by any other
means whatsoever other than by angling with hook and line
attached to a pole or rod: provided however, that any fish
commissioners appointed according to the laws of this state,
and their properly authorized agents or employees, shal
have-the nght of taking any fish in the said waters by sach
means as they may think proper, for use in the propagation.
of said fisb, and for no other purpose.
2. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons, or cor-
poration, at any time, to build any dam across the James
river or any of its tributaries, commonly known as fish-
dams, for the purpose of putting therein any trap or net to
catch fish, either running up or down said river and its tribu-
taries, nor shall any person put in said river or its tributaries
any obstruction of any kind so that fish may be taken there~
from at such obstruction in any manner whatsoever.

3. It shall not hereafter be lawful for any person or per-
sons, or corporation, to place or allow to pass into the waters
of the James river or any of its tributaries, or of the James
River and Kanawha canal, any lime, gas tar, or refuse of gas
works, or coculus indicus (commonly known as fish berries),
or any other deleterious substance.

4. Any person offending against the first section of this
act shall, on conviction thereof before a justice of the peace,
forfeit and pay the Sum of ten dollars for each offence, in
addition to which penalty the nets or other instr uments em-
ployed or used shall be forfeited and destroyed; and any
person violating the second section shall, on conviction
thereof before a justice of the peace, forfeit and pay the
sum of twenty dollars, and the dams shall be broken down,
and the traps or nets destroyed, and the expenses of break-
ing down and destroying the same shall be collected from
the party offending as a part of the costs of prosecution;
and any person or corporation violating the third section
shall, on conviction thereof before a justice of the peace,
forfeit and pay the sum of thirty dollars for each offence.

5. All fines and forfeitures of money incurred under this
act shall, when collected, be paid to the clerk of the court,
and by him paid, one-half to the informer, and the residue
to the county treasurer for the use of said county.