CHAPTER 514

An Act to amend and reenact § 29-148, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to taking, processing, selling and transporting cer-
tain fresh water fish.

[H 659]

Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 29-148, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 29-148. Unless and until otherwise provided by a regulation of the
Commission, after a public hearing, in accordance with the provisions of
this title, it shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take any
fish in inland waters other than shad, herring or mullet, except by fishing
with a hook and line or rod and reel, held in the hand, or to catch, trap,
take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale,
sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be
shipped, deliver for transportation, transport, cause to be transported,
carry or cause to be carried, by any means whatever, receive for shipment,
transport or carriage, or export, or import at any time or in any manner
any species of bass or trout, or the carcass or any part thereof, except as
specifically permitted by this article and only by the manner or means and
within the numbers stated; except that in the counties of Mecklenburg,
Pittsylvania, city of Danville, Charlotte, Campbell, Halifax, Amelia (except
between Vaughn’s pond and Meadsville dam), Caroline and King George
it shall be lawful to fish with “fish traps” or “fish pots” and haul seines in
any and all streams and waters, except in Grassy creek in Mecklenburg
County, provided that no person shall catch fish with “fish traps” or “fish
pots” and haul seines to be sold; and provided further that it shall be
unlawful in any and all of such counties to remove from the waters thereof
any bass, perch and trout caught with fish pots or fish traps or haul seines,
and any person so ag | bass, perch and trout shall immediately return
the same to the waters. The Commission shall have the authority to close
any streams or rivers or parts of streams or rivers in such counties when
same shall be stocked with fish by the Commission. Any provisions of this
title to the contrary notwithstanding, it shall be lawful to * sell or offer
to sell for human consumption trout which have been lawfully acquired
provided such trout have been propagated and raised in a hatchery or by
other artificial means. ;

The Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries shall by appropriate
regulation establish a practical system of identification of trout so * offered
for sale for table use. ;

A violation of the provisions of this section or regulations based there-
paver shall be declared a misdemeanor punishable by a penalty as provided

y law.