Chap. 474.—An ACT to provide that planters to whom natural oyster rocks
have been assigned through mistake shall have a reasonable time to remove
their planted oysters therefrom, &c.

Approved February 21, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That when, by
any resurvey of oyster planting grounds or survey made to re-establish
the lines of the state survey of natural oyster beds, rocks, and shoals
in the waters of the commonwealth which shall hereafter be made,
under the direction of the board of fisheries, it shall appear that anv
planter, without his own default, and by the mistake of any officer or
officers of the state, has had assigned to him and included in the plat
of his assignment any portion of the natural oyster beds, rocks, and
shoals which are embraced in the limits of the public oyster grounds,
as laid down on the chart of the state survey, and it shall further
appear that the said planter has oysters planted on this said ground,
then, before the stakes shall be removed from this said ground, or the
oyster tongmen shall have a right to go upon the same, the said planter
shall be allowed a reasonable time, the length of which is to be deter-
mined by the board of fisheries in their discretion, within which to
remove his planted oysters from the said ground, and any person other
than the said planter, his agents, or employees, going upon the said
ground and taking ovsters therefrom before the stakes shall have been
removed from the said ground by order of the board of fisheries, shall
be deemed guilty of larceny, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
punished as provided by law in other cases of larceny.

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