Chap. 83.—An ACT to amend and re-enact chapter 466 of the acts of the general
assembly of Virginia, session of 1926, as amended, to prohibit the use of
troll, or trawl nets, in the waters of the Commonwealth, and providing for
penalties for volations. [S B 155]

Approved February 28, 1930

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That chapter
four hundred and sixty-six of the acts of the general assembly of Vir-
ginia, session of nineteen hundred and twenty-six, as amended, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, firm or
corporation, to take or catch fish with a troll or trawl net, or similar
device, drawn through the waters by a vessel, boat or other craft in
any waters of the Commonwealth or waters under the jurisdiction of
the Commonwealth, except a regular licensed haul seine, authorized
by law, or to buy, sell or offer for sale any fish taken or caught in the
waters of the Commonwealth with a troll or trawl net or similar device,
except those fish caught by a regular licensed haul seine. Any vessel,
boat or craft found in the waters of the Commonwealth equipped for
trolling (or trawling) having a trawl net or a similar device aboard,
with fresh, live fish on deck or in the hold thereof, or in any other
portion of the said vessel, boat or craft, shall be prima facie evidence
of guilt, and shall be considered as if said fish were taken or caught
with a troll or trawl net in the waters of the Commonwealth. Provided,
further, that any vessel, boat or other craft found in the waters of the
Commonwealth north of a line drawn from the light house at Old
Point Comfort to Thimble Shoal Light, and thence in a straight line
from Thimble Shoal Light to the breakwater at the entrance of the
harbor of the city of Cape Charles, shall be conclusively presumed to
be trawling. Provided, further, that no trawler shall have a license for
any other net or fishing device granted to be used or employed on a
boat equipped for trawling, and having thereon a trawl net. Any per-
son violating the provisions of this act shall be fined for the first offense
not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars,
or imprisoned in jail not less than one month nor more than twelve
months, either or both in the discretion of the court or jury trving
the case, and for any subsequent conviction shall be fined not less than
five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand, or imprisoned in jail
not less than six months nor more than twelve months, either or both
in the discretion of the court or jury trying the case.

Provided that nothing in this act shall be construed as prohibiting
the transportation of fish caught by means of a troll (or trawl) net
outside of the territorial limits in Virginia in troll (or trawl) nets used
incident thereto, into Virginia ports to be placed upon the market, pro-
viding that in any such transportation said boat does not proceed north
of the line hereinbefore established.

2. All acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.