Chap. 173.—An ACT requiring owners of mill-dums, on the Shenan-
dosh river, to construct shoots, dr sluices, fur the passage of boats
and fish.

Approved March 20, 1877.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That it shall be
the duty of all owners of mill-dams now constructed, or here-
after to be built across the Shenandoah river, at any point from
the West Virginia line to the town of Port Republic, in Rock-
ingham county, to construct and keep shoots, or sluices, in
the said dams intended for the passage of boats, and not to
exceed a pitch of twenty-five degrees; said shoote, or sluices,
shall be of sufficient length to strike the water on the lower
side of the dam, and shall have not less than three rests to
aid fish in their: passage through said shoots or sluices. The
rests shall consist of timbers, not less than three inches in
thickness, and to be securely fastened on the bottom of said
shoots or sluices.

2. Any owner of a mill-dam within said bounds, who shall
fail or refuse to comply with the requirements of the first
section, shall be subject to a penalty of thirty dollars for cach
month so failing or refusing, recoverable before the county
court, on motion of the commonwealth’s attorney.

3. This act shall be in force from and after the first day of
November, cightcen hundred and seventy-seven.