Chap. 627.—An ACT for the protection and preservation of certain fish in the
Potomac river.

Approved March 8, 1896.

‘Whereas difficulty has arisen in the adoption of adequate legisla-
tion regulating the taking of fish in the Potomac river, in conse-
quence of the compact existing between the states of Maryland and
Virginia applicable to the taking of fish in the Potomac and Poco-
moke rivers; and

Whereas it is intended that the provisions of this act shall be
made effective by the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Mary-
land; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
not be lawful for any person to catch or kill any black bass, green
bass, rock bass, pike (or pickerel), or wall-eyed pike (commonly
known as salmon), in Potomac river between the fifteenth day of
April and the first day of June of each year; nor to catch or kill
any of said species of fish at any other time during the year save
only with a rod, hook and line, or dip net.

2. Any person violating the provisions of this act shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable on conviction by im-
prisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months or by a fine
not exceeding two hundred dollars, or by fine and imprisonment.
And it shall be the duty of the courts for the counties abutting on
the Potomac river above the little falls at each session of the grand
jury to call its attention to the provisions of this law.

3. That the provisions of this law shall not be applicable below
the little falls, near Washington, and that the same shall become
effective whenever they shall be adopted by the respective named
states.

4, Where the words hook and line appear in section one it is in-
tended that they shall not apply to what is known as trot-lines or
out-lines.

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