CHAP. 376.—An ACT to make it unlawful to set or place traps, snares,
nets, spring poles, dead falls, or other devices, upon the lands or m
the waters of, or in the waters adjoining the lands of any person m
the State of Virginia, for the purpose of catching or killing any fur-
bearing or hair-bearing animal, or killing or attempting to kill with
a gun, any fur-bearing animal, without first obtaining the written
consent of such landowner to trap, such written consent to be in pos
session of the user of such device at the time of the setting or using
thereof; grand juries to have inquisitorial powers; traps to be in
spected within each thirty-six hours after setting or placing. Trap-
pers to be liable for all damage done by their traps, and at once to
make written report thereof when they find stock, fowls, or the like
in their traps upon the lands of another; any person finding devices
mentioned in this act set or placed contrary to the provisions of this
act may seize and destroy same; each violation of any provisions of
this act to constitute a misdemeanor. (H. B. 16.)

Approved March 20, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be unlawful for any person to set or place any trap,
snare, net, spring pole, dead fall, or to bait the same, upon the
lands or in the waters of, or in the waters adjoining the lands
of any person, for the purpose of catching or killing any fur-

bearing or hair-bearing animal upon the lands of another, ex-
cept between noon October fifteenth, and noon January fif-
teenth, and then only after such person has obtained the writ-
ten consent of the owner of the lands to use such devices to
catch or to kill fur-bearing animals between noon, October fif-
teenth and noon January fifteenth of the year the written con-
sent is given, which written consent shall be upon the person
ane time he may be using or setting above devices, as afore-
said.

2. Be it further enacted, that any person setting or placing
a steel trap or a dead fall upon the lands of another, shall in-
spect the same within each thirty-six hours thereafter, and shall
remove therefrom any animal or fowl caught therein.

3. Be it further enacted, that any person trapping upon
the lands of another shall at once make to the owner of the
lands a full written report of each head of stock, fowl or dog
caught in the steel trap or other trapping device set by such
person, giving date such stock, fowl or dog was caught, with
full description thereof.

4. Be it further enacted, that any person setting or placing
steel traps or dead falls, shall not set or place them in the
open, where they are liable to be damage to persons, stock,
fowls, dogs, or the like by reason of being caught with said
devices; the one setting or placing said devices shall be liable
for all damage done by said devices.

Be it further enacted, that any person finding any of
the devices mentioned in the first section of this act, set or
placed contrary to the provisions of this act, may seize and de-
stroy any and all such devices so found.

6. Be it further enacted, that nothing in this act shall
prohibit a landowner from trapping for fur-bearing animals,
or killing or attempting to kill them with a gun upon his own
land at any season of the year.

7. Be it further enacted, that any person violating any
provision of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon
conviction, shall be punished accordingly; and the setting or
placing of each separate trap or device, on the lands of another
without a written permit, as provided for in the first section
of this act, or the failure to obey any other provision of this
act shall constitute a separate offense.

8. This act shall not apply to or become effective or opera-
tive within any county in the State until the board of super-
visors thereof shall have adopted the same.

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