Chap. 105.—An ACT to prevent the destruction of fish, and to prevent the obstrue-

tion of the free passage of the same, in Dan river, at or near Danville, Vir-
ginia.

Approved January 25, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the gencral assembly of Virginia, That the own-
ers of the water-power and dams across Dan river at Danville, Virginia,
are hereby required to provide said dams with practicable and suitable
fish-ladders, so that fish may have free passage up and down said river
all the vear, except as hercinafter provided. Said fish-wayvs provided
for in this section shall be so constructed that the lower end or mouth
thereof, if the same be made parallel with the course of sid river, shall
not be lower down the stream than the dam is at the place where the
same is constructed; and if said fish-way shall be constructed in anv
other direction, then it shall be so made that the lower end or mouth
thereof shall not be more than ten feet lower down the stream than the
dam is at the point where said fish-way strikes the bed of the river: pro-
vided, that if at any time, except during the months of March, April and
Mav of each year, the water in said stream, on account of drouth, fall so
low as not to run over said dam, then the fish-w avs provided for in
this section may, during the continuance of said low water, 1f necessary
for the operation of machinery run by water-power be shut down and
closed.

2. Said owners of said water-power shall not remove, or in any
way interfere with, the fish-wavs hereinbefore already provided for said
dams, but shall be required to keep the same in good condition and repair.

3. For any failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of this act
the owners of said water-power and dam shall forfeit not less than
twenty dollars, to be recovered by motion or information in the corpora-
tion court of Danville, and in case of said failure or refusal it shall be
the duty of said corporation court, after due notice to said owners, and
satisfactory proof of such failure or refusal, to have said fish-way con-
structed or restored at the expense of said owners.
4. It shall be unlawful, after the passage of this act, for any persor
or corporation to catch or take in or from said river at Danville, betweer
the Southern railway bridge, formerly the Richmond and Danville rail
road bridge, across Dan river, and one hundred feet above the uppe
dam across said river, fish of any kind whatever by means of traps
nets or gill-nets or grab- hooks. And all traps, nets or gill-nets or grab.
hooks hereby prohibited for catching fish shall be at once removed fron

said river within the prescribed locality aforesaid. Any person or cor
poration violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of thi:
section shall, upon conviction thereof before any justice of the peace o
Danville, be fined not less than ten dollars for cach offence.

5. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby re
pealed.

This act shall be in force from and after the first day of February
eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.