Chapter 47. for protection of the Potomac fisheries in the District of Columbia and for the preservation of shad and herring in the Potomac River
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CHAP. 47.— An Act for protection of the Potomac fisheries in the District of Columbia and for the preservation of shad and herring in the Potomac River.April 6, 1880. *Be it enacted by the Senate and- House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Potomac fisheries—The preservation of.Prohibits fishing after May 30.Fishing season specified. That it shall not be lawful to fish with fyke-net, pound-net, stake-net, weir, float-net, gill-net, haul-seine, or any other contrivance stationary or floating, in the waters of the Potomac River within the District of Columbia, after the thirtieth day of May in any year.
Sec. 2. That during the fishing season, namely, from the first day of January to the thirtieth day of May in every year, there shall be observed in each week, a closed season, beginning at sundown on Saturday evening, and ending at midnight on Sunday night during which time it shallSunday. be unlawful to lay out any haul seine or float net or to fish the same, and all stake-nets, and the leaders of all hedges or pounds, fyke-nets and weirs shall be lifted clear of the water so as to allow unobstructed passage to the fish: *Provided,* That in the case of weirs it will be sufficient*Proviso.* to remove a section of the hedging next the pound or pen, not less than twelve feet in length.
Sec. 3. That it shall be unlawful for any person to take, in any otherProhibition concerning block bass and salmon. manner than by angling, or with the out line, any fish of the species known as “black bass” or “salmon”. Sec. 4. That it shall be unlawful tor any person to have in possessionProhibits sale or possession after 10th of June—penalty. or expose for sale in the District of Columbia, after the tenth day of June in any year, fish of the shad or herring species (fresh) under a penalty of five dollars for every fish so exposed or found in possession.
SEC. 5. That any person who shall offend against any of the provisionsOffense a misdemeanor. of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon sufficient proof thereof in the Police Court or other court of the District shall be fined not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars forPenalty. each offense and shall forfeit to the District his nets, boats and other apparatus, which shall be sold and the proceeds of such sales and allDisposition of fines. tines accruing under this act shall be paid into the Treasury, and therefrom, to the informer, in each case where conviction ensues, shall be paid the sum of ten dollars: *Provided,* That nothing in this act shall be*Proviso.* Exceptions. construed to prohibit angling or fishing with the out line, or to prevent the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, or his agents, from taking from the waters named, in any manner desired, fish of any kind for scientific purposes or for the purposes of propagation.
Approved, April 6, 1880.