Chap. 383.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 31 of chapter 247, Acts 1930,
relating to permits for breeding wild birds, wild animals and fish. [S B 238]

Approved March 28, 1932

I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
thirty-one of chapter two hundred and forty-seven, Acts nineteen hun-
dred and thirty, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 31. Permit required to breed wild birds, wild animals and
fish.—Any person or firm who desires to engage in the business of
raising wild birds, wild animals and fish to be sold exclusively for re-
stocking and propagation purposes shall first apply to the commission
for a permit to do so. The applicant shall state whether or not he, and
if a firm, as to any member thereof, has ever been convicted of violat-
ing the game or inland fish laws, and if so, when and where and the
nature thereof, and such other information as the commission may
require on application blank supplied by it, which application shall be
accompanied by a fee of five dollars. If an offense has been committed
the commission, in determining whether such permit should be granted
or refused, shall consider the gravity of the same and if it is satisfied
that such offending person or firm, or other person or firm applying
will abide by the laws for the protection of wild birds, wild animals and
fish and that such permit will not be used as a means of or as a pretext
for violating the game or inland fish laws it may grant the permit to
breed wild birds, wild animals and fish and to sell the same for restock-
ing and propagation purposes only. The commission shall authorize the
permittee, by such means or in such manner as it may determine, to
acquire a reasonable number of breeding stock to conduct the opera-
tions and shall adopt such regulations governing the conduct of the
business as it may deem necessary to safeguard the wild life interests
of the State. Such regulations shall be fully expressed in and be a
part of such permit. The permit shall run and be valid for the
calendar year, from January first to December thirty-first. The game
warden of the county wherein the permittee is located is specifically
charged with the duty of seeing that the regulations of the commis-
sion for the conduct of such business are strictly complied with and
if such game warden fails to do so he may be removed from office.
Violation of any regulation for the conduct of the business shall be
deemed a misdemeanor and any person or firm convicted thereof shall
be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars
and his permit shall be revoked by the trial court or commission and
he shall not for a period of three years be granted a new permit for
such purpose.