Chap. 740.—An ACT to protect wild water-fowl and other game in the counties
of Accomac and Northampton.

Approved March 5, 18%.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
not be lawful within the jurisdiction of the counties of Accomac and
Northampton for any person to shoot at, kill or capture any wild
water-fowl at any time during the night, or to kill or shoot at them
with a gun which cannot be conveniently raised and fired at arm’s
length from the shoulder without a rest; or at any time to capture
them in traps or nets, or by other contrivances. If any person vio-
late any of the provisions of this section he shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and, in either case, be fined one hundred dollars for each
offence and imprisoned in jail until the fine be paid, but not ex-
ceeding ninety days. All guns, vessels, boats or other appliances,
and all traps, nets and other contrivances used in the commission
of the offence shall be forfeited to the commonwealth. In any prose-
cution of any person under this section, the possession of reflectors,
traps or other contrivances for the violation of these provisions shall
be prima facie evidence of his guilt; and in all cases of conviction
one-half of the fine shall be to the informer.

2. It shall not be lawful for any person who is not an actual resi-
dent of this state to shoot at, catch or kill any wild fowl in any
waters or on any marshes or beaches within the jurisdiction of the
said counties of Accomac and Northampton. This section shall not
apply to such non-residents as are members of the Eastern Shore
game protective association, and subject to the charter and by-laws
of said association. Any person violating the provisions of this sec-
tion shall, upon conviction, be fined for each offence one hundred
dollars, one-half of which shall be to the informer, and confined in
jail until said fine is paid, but not to exceed sixty days.

3. It shall not be lawful for any person to shoot or kill rabbits,
sometimes known as hares; or partridges, sometimes known as quail,
in said counties of Accomac and Northampton, between the first day
of January and the fifteenth day of November of each year, or to
take or destroy the eggs of partridges or quail at any time, nor to
shoot or in any manner kill or destroy, in said counties, the bir
known as the marsh hen at any time, or take its eggs later in th
season than the tenth of June; or to shoot or in any manner kill o
destroy a bird known as the willet before the fifteenth day of Av
gust in any season, or to take its eggs at any time; or to shoot or i
any manner kill or destroy the bird known as the gull or striker a
any time, or take its eggs later in the season than the fourth day o
July; or to kill or capture woodcock between the first day of Novem
ber and first day of April; or to kill or destroy the turkey buzzar:
or black buzzard; to capture for sale or transportation or kill th
mocking bird; or to kill or capture the brown thrush, or cardinal o
redbird, house martin or starling, or to destroy their nests. If an:
person violate any of the provisions of this section he shall b
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall b
fined ten dollars for each offence and imprisoned in jail until th
fine is paid, but not exceeding ten days. Any person found violatin:
any section of this act may be seized without warrant by any sherif
or constable, or any citizen of the commonwealth, and carried befor
a justice of the county in which the offence was committed, and b
by him disposed of in any case. And, in the prosecution of any
person for the violation of any section of this act, the proof of any
such wild fowl, game or bird in his possession shall be prima facie
evidence of his guilt.

4. In so far as existing acts or parts of acts are in conflict witk
the provisions of this act they are hereby repealed.

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