CHAP. 469.--An ACT to amend and re-enact section 24 of chapter 343 of acts 1910, entitled an act to revise, arrange, amend and consolidate into one act certain laws relating to oysters, fish, clams, crabs and other shellfish, and to repeal all acts or ...
Approved March 22, 1916.
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section twenty-four of chapter three hundred and forty-three, acts of the general assembly of nineteen hundred and ten, entitled an act to revise, arrange, amend and consolidate into one act certain laws relating to oysters, fish, clams, crabs and other shellfish, and to repeal all acts or parts of acts of the general assembly, and any section or sections of the Code of Virginia in conflict with the provisions of this act, be amended and reenacted so as to read as follows:
Sec. 24. Any resident of this State, who shall be qualified under this act and desires to take or catch oysters from the natural oyster beds, rocks, or shoals of the 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 inspector of the district in which he resides for a license. The license taxes shall be as follows: (1) for each pair of patent tongs, five dollars; (2) for each person taking oysters by hand, or with ordinary tongs, two 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 license shall be issued to take or catch oysters from the natural oyster rocks, beds or shoals of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or within the jurisdiction thereof for the period during which he is not prohibited by law from working on any such natural rocks, 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, 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 upon the natural rocks, beds or shoals, 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 one hundred dollars.