Chap. 56.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 3241 and 3242 of the Code
of Virginia, section 3242 of which as heretofore amended. [H. B. 50]

Approved September 13, 1933

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That sections
thirty-two hundred and forty-one and thirty-two hundred and forty-two
of the Code of Virginia, section thirty-two hundred and forty-two of
which as heretofore amended, be amended:and re-enacted so as to read
as follows: ,

Section 3241. Any resident of this State having a boat to be used
in taking or catching oysters with tongs from the natural rocks, beds,
or shoals, shall apply to the inspector of the district where he resides
to have said boat registered.

The inspector shall register such boat and prescribe for it a number
corresponding with the number of boats registered, which number for
boats and number of district shall be displayed as hereinafter provided.
For said registration annually the owner shall pay to the inspector, for
all kinds of boats, a fee of fifty cents.

Where patent tongs are to be used on any such boat the inspector
shall register and number said boats as follows: The stamp or mark
shall be P. T., and the number of boat registered, and under the name
of the boat the number of his district. For example, “P. T. 1,” show-
ing that the boat is registered for patent tongs, number one, and regis-
tered in district number one, in Accomac county.

The numbers and letters shall be not less than four inches in height,
and shall be stamped in black upon thin white board, which shall be
furnished by the inspector to the applicant, and fastened securely by
said applicant on the starboard prow of his boat.

Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than ten,
nor more than fifty dollars for each offense. For the purpose of regis-
tering boats as aforesaid, the oyster portion of the State shall be kept
laid off into districts by the Commission of Fisheries.

Provided, however, that for the year nineteen hundred and thirty-
three only, said registration fee shall be twenty-five cents.

Section 3242. Any resident of this State, who shall be duly qualified
and desires to take or catch oysters or clams from the natural oyster
beds, rocks, shoals or any other waters of the Commonwealth by hand
or with ordinary or patent tongs, or any instrument allowed by law,
other than a scrape or dredge, shall first apply in writing to the inspec-
tor of the district in which he resides for a license. The license taxes
shall be as follows: :

First. For each pair of patent tongs, ten dollars.

Second. For each person taking oysters or clams by hand, or with
ordinary tongs, four dollars; provided, however, that a license issued
for patent tongs shall entitle the holder, without the payment of an
additional license tax, to use ordinary tongs while not using patent
tongs. When such person shall have paid to the inspector the fees
required of him, said inspector shall register such person, and _ shall
issue to him a license which shall entitle him during the season for
which such shall be issued to take or catch oysters or clams from the
natural oyster rocks, beds, shoals or any other waters of the Common-
wealth of Virginia, or within the jurisdiction thereof, for the period
during which he is not prohibited by law from working on any such
natural rock, beds or shoals. Any oysterman, when required to do so
by an inspector or other police officer must show a license for every
pair of oyster tongs in his possession while working on the natural
rocks, beds, or shoals, or any other waters of the Commonwealth, and
the having of more pairs of oyster tongs than licenses exhibited, as
aforesaid, shall be prima facie evidence of violating the provisions of
this section as to obtaining licenses. If any person is found oystering
or clamming upon the natural rocks, beds, shoals or other waters of the
Commonwealth without having been so licensed, or after having his
license revoked, or if he violates any provision of this section, such
person shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than two hundred
dollars.

Provided, however, that for the year nineteen hundred and thirty-
three only, the license taxes and the fee for issuing the same shall be
one-half of the amounts prescribed in this section.

For issuing such license in each case herein specified, there shall be
a fee of fifty cents paid by the licensee, in addition to the said license
tax, and which fee shall be turned over to the commissioner, and covered
into the public treasury, to be appropriated, as provided by law, for the
benefit of the seafood industry.

That fifty per cent. (50%) of the income in the revenue derived
under this act shall be segregated for the replenishment of the public
oyster rocks, beds and shoals of the Commonwealth.

2. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from its passage.