Chap. 779.—An ACT to regulate and protect the crabbing industry, and to pro-
hibit non-residents from catching crabs in the waters of Virginia.

Approved March 7, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
be unlawful for non-residents to catch crabs with scrapes or dredges
in the waters of Virginia; and that it shall be unlawful for any
person to catch crabs with scrapes or dredges on the planted oyster
grounds of private individuals or the natural oyster rocks in the
state of Virginia.

2. Any person violating the provisions of this act shall be deemed
guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the penitentiary not more than one year, or, in the discretion of the
jury, may be confined not more than twelve months in jail, or
fined not exceeding one hundred dollars; and upon every conviction
the offender shall forfeit to the commonwealth the boat, scrapes or
dredges and other tackle used in the violations of this act. And
it shall be the special duty of the oyster police and oyster inspec-
tors of this state to give information of any violation of the provi-
sions of this act to their respective commonwealth’s attorneys.

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