CHAP. 2.—An ACT for the protection of wild turkeys, pheasants. grouse,
quail, partridges, woodcocks, hares (or rabbits), and squirrels.

Approved January 20, 1912.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it
shal] be unlawful for any person to hunt, kill or capture in any
manner, or have in possession any wild turkeys, pheasants,
grouse, quail, partridges, woodcock, hares (or rabbits) or squir-
rels in this State from the time of the enactment of this bill to
the second day of February, nineteen hundred and twelve: pro-
vided, that this shall not restrict the killing or capturing of hares
or squirrels by residents of this State upon their own land by
themselves or any one to whom the said residing owners may give
written permission to kill or capture hares or squirrels.

The object and intention of this bill is to immediately close
the open season as to the game herein named and in no other
way to amend or encroach upon the present game laws of this
State.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this bill shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be tried and punished
according to the laws for the protection of game now existing
in this State. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with or in
conflict with this bill are hereby repealed. |

2. Inasmuch as there is an existing emergency, in that the
game herein mentioned has been reduced to the point of starva-
tion and much of it will necessarily perish from starvation and
cold occasioned by this continued spell of snow and extreme cold,
which makes it verv easy to kill or capture the same in large
quantities, this bill shall be in force fromthe time of its passage.