Chap. 248.—An ACT to provide for the appointment of Fish Commis-
sioners for the State of Virginia.

Approved March 25, 1875.

Whereas the experience of many states has shown that
their fisheries can be fully restored by the proper propaga-
tion and culture of fish, and for that reason have appointed
commissioners to take charge of the propagation of food
fishes; and whereas the congress of the United States has
also appointed a commissioncr-general of fisheries, who is
ready and willing to co-operate with the commissiorfers of
fisheries of the several states in furnishing such aid and in-
formation as may assist in the stocking of the waters of the
said states with food fishes ; therefore,

1. Be it euacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the governor is hereby authorized to appoint three compe-
tent persons, who shall continue in office for two years from
the time of their appointment, and until their successors are
appointed, who shall be known as commissioners of fisheries
of Virginia. ,

2. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners to pro-
ceed at once to obtain the information necessary to enable
them to stock all of the waters of this commonwealth with
such food fishes as in their judgment shall be most suitable
to each, and with that object they shall communicate with
the commissioner-gentral of fisheries of the United States,
and with the commissioners of fisheries appointed by the
different states; and they may examine into and consult with
the Maryland fish commissioners as to the feasibility and cost
of constructing fish ladders at the great falls of the Potomac
to admit the passage of fish from tidewater into the upper
Potomac, and into the Shenandoah; and shall also enquire
into the expediency of constructing fish-ways or ladders to
admit the passage of fish over dams or other obstructions in
all the waters of the state.

3. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners of fishe-

ries, after obtaining the information required in the preced-

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ing section, to proceed to the selection of proper locations
for the pr opagation and culture of such food fishes as it shall
be deemed desirable to introduce into the waters of this state,
obtain the necessary ova, and construct and erect suitable
houses and devices for hatching the same, and protecting the
small fish until fit to be distributed, and then to distribute
the same among all of the rivers of thisstate. The commis-
sioners shall also have the power to take fish from any of the
streams of this state in any manner, and at any time, for the
purpose of propagution and investigation.

4. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners to ap-
point agents residing at convenient localities near each of
the rivers in this commonwealth, to aid them in the distri-
bution of the ova, the hatching ‘of the game and protection
of the small fish: provided, that the said Sgonte shall receive
no compensation for their services.

5. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners to make
an annual report to the governor for transmission to the
general assembly of this state of the work accomplished by
the commission, and also embracing such suggestions for the
protection and propagation of food fishes in the waters of
this state as may be the result of their observation and ex-
perience.

6. Be it further enacted, That the sum of twenty-five hun-
dred dollars per annum, or so much thereof as may, in the
opinion of the governor, be necessary, be and the same is
hereby appropriated for the purpose of paying the necessary
expenses of the commissioners and to carry out the provi-
sions of this act; and the auditor shall issue his warrant on
the treasurer for the payment of the said sum on presenta-
tion of the accounts of the said commissioners, approved by
the governor, out of any moneys in the treasury not other-
wise appropriated.

his act shall be in force from its passage.