SChap. 321.—An ACT to have the boundaries of certain natural oyster beds,
rocks and shoals, in Mathews county, surveyed, and plots made of the same.

Approved February 11, 1896.

Whereas decisions, rendered in the circuit court of Mathews
county in various chancery suits, by which the boundaries of some
yf the natural oyster beds, rocks and shoals in Mobjack bay and Mil-
ord haven, as fixed by the geodetic survey, have been altered and
hanged; and

Whereas the changes and alterations so made by said court were
yased on the facts that Thomas J. Hudgins, oyster inspector in Mob-
ack bay, and W.G. Lane, oyster inspector in Milford haven, had
nade certain assignments of these rocks previous to February twen-
y-fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, to certain parties, and
arta of these said assignments were surveyed by the geodetic sur-
eyor, and embraced within the survey and on the plots on file in
f{athews county clerk’s office; and

W hereas the court held that the assignments made by T. J. Hudgins
n Mobjack bay and W. G. Lane in Milford haven were binding, and
ines then established by said inspectors should be the proper lines;
nd

Whereas it is proper and right that the lines so decided by said
ourt should be made permanent and fixed: now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the circuit
ourt of Mathews county be, and is hereby, authorized and directed
» have the lines run and established as were originally designated
and made by T. J. Hudgins, oyster inspector in Mobjack bay, and by
W. G. Lane, oyster inspector in Milford haven, and to that end the
court shall appoint three discreet citizens of Mathews county, who
shall act as commissioners, to go on said oyster grounds and estab-
lish the lines in Mobjack bay as originally fixed by T. J. Hudgins,
inspector, and establish the lines in Milford haven as originally fixed
by W. G. Lane, inspector; and shall call in a competent surveyor to
survey said lines, make maps and plots under the direction of said
commissioners; said commissioners shall make their report, along
with maps and plots, to the court.

2. On the hearing of the report of the commissioners, the court
shall decide and make such an order as to it seems right; and the
order of the court, the report of the commissioners, and the mips and
plots, shall have the same force and effect, and be placed on the same
footing in any suit or controversy, as the report, surveys, maps or
plots now have, made by the geodetic survey in pursuance of the acts
of assembly, February twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and ninety-
two, and all acts amendatory thereof, and now on file in the clerk’s
office of Mathews county.

3. The costs incurred under this act shall be paid by the common-
wealth of Virginia, by an order of the circuit court of Mathews
county, certified to the auditor of public accounts of Virginia for
payment, to be paid out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated. The commissioners shall receive two dollars per day
for their services, and the court shall fix a reasonable fee for the sur-
veyor.

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