Chap. 163.—An ACT for the protection of fish in the Shenandoah river an
its tributaries.

Approved March 12, 1906.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall ln
unlawful for any person to catch, destroy or take any fish of any descrip
tion hy any methods or means other than with the hook and line in o
from the Shenandoah river or its tributaries, except as hereinafter pro
vided.

2. It shall be unlawful to use fish berries, lime, giant powder, dyna
mite or other explosive substance. for the destruction of fish in the
Shenandoah river or any of its tributaries, hy which fish therein may In
destroyed.

3. It shall not be lawful to kill or capture in the Shenandoah river,
its tributaries, black bass or pond bass, by any manner or means betwee1
the first day of April and the first day of June.

4. Dip nets and stir nets may be used in taking and catching fish othe
than bass and mountain trout from the said river and its tributaries, ex:
cept within the prohibited period of each vear. Gigs and spears may be
used in killing and taking of fish, other than bass and mountain trout
from the Shenandoah river and its tributaries from November the first
to December the tenth of each year, but at no other time.

5. Fish pots may be used for the purpose of taking and catching
fish, other than bass, in the Shenandoah river and its tributaries, except
within the prohibited period in section three: provided, the dam is left
open on one side not less than thirty fect from the bank at low water
mark, and in case of a dam or other obstruction, where fish ladders are
required by law, if the party whose duty it is to construct such fish
ladder shall fail to do so, any other person or persons who may be ag-
grieved thereby may construct the same at the cost of the aforesaid party
and recover the same on motion before a justice, if less than one hun-
dred dollars, and on motion of the circuit court, if more than one hun-
dred dollars, but this shall not relieve the party from criminal liability
for said failure.

6. Seines shall not be used at any time for catching or taking fish,
except that minnow-nets may be used in any of the tributaries of the
Shenandoah river for the purpose of taking small fish, to be used for bait
in angling.

7. Any person violating this act or any of the provisions thereof shall
be fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five dollars for
each offense.

8. All acts and parts of acts in relation to catching fish in the Shenan-
doah river or its tributaries in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.