Chap. 300.—An ACT to prevent obstructions to the Free Passage of
Fish in the Streams of the State.

Approved April 29, 1874.

-1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That any canal an¢
company, public improvement company, any corporation, he
€public or private,) or any person or persons whatsoever, be p:
owning or having control of any dam or other thing, on any slop
of the rivers of the state above tide-water, which dam or ob- !s4¢
struction may interfere with the free passage of fish, shall,
‘within six months after the passage of this act, be required
to provide such dams or obstructions with suitable sluices,
slopes or fish ladders, so that fish may have free passage u
or down said rivers, during the months of March, April,
May and June, of each year, unless the water during these
months shall be so low as not to run over such dam; and it Wh
shall be required of such partics that the same shall be re- oun
stored in case of destruction, and shall be kept in good re- be x

air. :

P 2. Any company, corporation, person or persons, failing to Pen
comply with the requirements of the first section of this act, (mr
shall forfeit five dollars for each day he or they may so fail

or refuse to comply therewith, to be recovered by motion or How
information of any person, before the county court of the °°
county wherein such a dam or other thing may be situated ;
and in case of a failure or refusal of any of the owners or Upo
agents, or officers, of the dams or obstructions aforesaid to 2m
‘construct sluices, slopes or ladders, as required, it shall be the ma
‘duty of the county court of the county wherein such failure of 0%
exists, after due notice to the parties interested, and satisfac- 44m
tory proof of such failure, to have the same constructed at
the expense of the owner or owners thereof.

-3. It shall be the duty of the supervisors of each county, Dut
‘by personal inspection of the dams and streams in their re- fe"
respective counties, at least twice a year, in the months of toin
April and October, to examine and see that the provisions of
the foregoing sections are carried into effect.

4. It shall be the duty of the board of public works of the Dut
state, to adopt plans for such fish ladders or ways for the pas- ¢o &
sage ot fish, and furnish printed instructions in regard to the fort
erection of the same; one copy of which shall be furnished Copi
to the president or superintendent of any company in charge *"™
of such dams, and one copy furnished to the clerk of each
county or corporation court, who shall keep it for the inspec-
tion of all persons desiring information on the matters con-
tained in this act.

5. Provided, the provisions of this act shall not apply to:
the Shenandoah river and its branches, or to the N onth and
South Forks of the Roanoke river. 7

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