S H "5t'5 .Fa? HIS W&Mm %& ^fctutu r SoJir vvatu &4$M is-o^^ £H?>? aA \°i \ 5 STATE OF FLORIDA General and Special La ws Relating to Salt Water Fisheries Compiled by T. R. Hodges, State Salt Water Fish Commissioner, Tallahassee, Florida T. J. Appleyard, State Printer Tallahassee, Fla. WW- of ^* ft 1916 kv FLORIDA SALT WATER FISH LAWS AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt Water Fishing Industry of the State of Florida, and to Provide Penalties for the Violation of this Act. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida- OWNERSHIP BY STATE Section 1. That all fish in the rivers, bayous, lagoons, lakes, bays, sounds and in- lets, bordering on or connected with the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, or in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, are hereby declared and shall con- tinue and remain the property of the State of Florida, and may be taken and used by citizens of this State and persons not citi- zens of this State, subject to the restrictions and reservations hereinafter imposed by this Act. SIZE OF BAR AND MESH Sec. 2. It shall be from and after Septem- ber 30th, 1915, unlawful for any person, per- sons, firm or corporation to catch any fish in any of the salt waters of the State of Flor- ida with any seine, gill-net, pocket net or any other kind of net of less size than one 2 Florida Half Mater Fish Lairs. and one-half inch bar, measured from knot to knot, or a stretched mesh of three inches from knot to knot after being tarred or shrunk. LENGTH OF NETS Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for an}' seine, gill-net, stop-net, haul-nets or any other kind of nets of a greater length than three hun- dred and fifty yards, to be set, fished or used in the salt-waters of this State, or for any seine, gill-net, stop-net, haul-net or any other kind of net to be attached together in any manner, making a length of more than three hundred and fifty yards, or for any seine, gill-net, stop-net, haul-net or any other kind of net to be fastened by stakes or other- wise with ends nearer each other than one hundred yards for the purpose of making a stretch or length of more than three hundred and fifty yards, to be used for the purpose of catching or taking fish from the rivers, creeks, bays, bayous, lagoons, sounds, inlets or other salt waters on the coast of the State of Florida ; Provided, however, that a net or nets of a length of more than three hundred and fifty yards may be used in reg- ular mullet or mackerel fishing. BAR AND MESH SHAD NETS Sec. 4. No person shall place out in the rivers of the State of Florida any gill net Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 3 for the capture of shad, of a less size than two and one-half inch bar from knot to knot, or five-inch stretched mesh from knot to knot. STOP NETTING Sec. 5. It shall be unlawful for any per- son, persons, firm or corporation to place or set any seine, net or other set device across or in any of the rivers, creeks, bayous, or passes in the State of Florida, for the pur- pose of stop-netting such rivers, creeks, bayous or passes for the purpose of catch- ing fish. CLOSE SEASON FOR SHAD Sec. 6. It shall be unlawful for any per- son, persons, firm or corporation to catch or capture any shad or to use any gill net or seine for the capture of shad between April 1st and December 1st of every year. CONFISCATION ILLEGAL NETS Sec. 7. In all cases of arrest and convic- tion for the use of illegal nets, as provided in this Act, such illegal nets shall be consid- ered a nuisance and the court shall order the bunts of such illegal nets to be destroyed immediately after such trial and conviction, and the leads, corks and lines belonging to such nets shall be returned to the owner. 4 Florida Salt Water Fish La W8. CLOSED SEASON FOR MULLET Sec. 8. That from and after the passage of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any per- son, persons, firm or corporation to catch or to capture, or have in their possession, or ship any of the lish known as mullet, or any fresh or freshly-salted mullet roe, in this State, between the 20th day of November of any year and the 20th day of January of the next succeeding year; Provided that in the waters west of Suwannee Kiver the closed season in mullet shall be from November 30th to January 20th following. The pos- session of any fresh or freshly salted mullet, or any fresh or freshly-salted mullet roe, by any person, persons, firm or corporation, during the closed season shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this law. UNLAWFUL COMMON CARRIER TO TRANS- PORT Sec. 9. It shall be unlawful for any com- mon carrier, agent or employee of such com- mon carrier, to receive for carriage, or per- mit the carriage of any fresh or unsalted, or freshly salted mullet caught during the closed season mentioned in the foregoing section ; Provided, however, that any person having any mullet on hand at the beginning of the closed season shall have the right to ship or dispose of same ; provided, however, Florida A sV/// Water Fish Laws 5 that the time of such disposal and shipment shall not extend beyond ten days after the beginning of such closed season. CONFISCATION OF BOATS Sec. 10. That any owner, captain, person, agent, officer, crew or member thereof, of any vessel or boat, violating the provisions of Section of this Act, shall subject the vessel and cargo thereof to seizure by the Shell Fish Commissioner, or any of his authorized deputies, and taken into custody and deliv- ered to the Sheriff of the County in which the seizure is made, and shall be liable to for- feiture on appropriate proceedings being in- stituted by the Shell Fish Commissioner be- fore the courts. The following rules to cover the proceedings in each such case: PROCEEDINGS FOR CONFISCATION The proceedings shall be by ordinary suit instituted in the name of the State of Flor- ida, setting forth the cause of action and praying for the forfeiture of said vessel, and after due trial, and judgment obtained, said vessel shall be sold at public auction by the Sheriff at the dock nearest to, or on deck of said vessel, after such sale shall have been advertised for thirty days in some newspaper published in the County, as provided by law, and the proceeds of such sale shall be 6 Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. paid to the Shell Fish Commissioner, to be deposited in the State Treasury, to the credit of the Shell Fish Fund, after deducting costs and fees prescribed by law in judicial sales. The cargo of the seized vessel, if perishable, shall at once be sold to the best advantage by the Sheriff, and the proceeds disposed of in the same manner as the proceeds from the sale of the vessel. Pending this proceedings, such vessel may be released upon the owner furnishing bond with good and solvent se- curity, in double the value of the vessel, which bond shall remain in lieu of said ves- sel and cargo, in the hands of the sheriff, to insure its being returned in good condition to the sheriff, and have same subjected to the judgment of the court, or to pay the amount of judgment and costs rendered in the suit. UNLAWFUL TO CAPTURE FOOD FISH FOR OIL OR COMPOST Sec. 11. No person, persons, firm or cor- poration shall catch or capture any of the following fish : Mullet, trout, redfish, sheep- head, pompano, mackerel, bluefish, red snapper, grouper or any other food fish when in the waters under the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, for the purpose of mak- ing oil, fertilizer or compost therefrom. UNLAWFUL TO THROW DYNAMITE OR OTH- ER EXPLOSIVES IN WATERS Sec. 12. No person, persons, firm or cor- Florida Salt Water Fish Laics t poration shall throw or cause to be thrown into any of the waters of Uiis State any dynamite, lime or other explosive whatever for the purpose of killing the fish therein. UNLAWFUL TO FISH WITH SEINES IN CER- TAIN COUNTIES Sec. 13. It shall be unlawful for any per- son, persons, firm or corporation to take or catch any fish with haul seines or draguets in any or all of the salt waters of the coun- ties of Volusia, Brevard, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Broward, and all salt waters in Dade County north of Biscayne Bay. LICENSE TAX ON DEALERS Sec. 14. No person, persons, firm or cor- poration shall engage in the business of wholesale fish dealer until such person, per- sons, firm or corporation shall have first procured from the Commissioner of Agricul- ture of the State of Florida, an annual fish dealer's license, for which a charge of ten dollars shall be made. All retail fish dealers shall pay a license tax of five dollars per annum. A wholesale fish dealer shall be considered any one who sells fish to a retail dealer other than the person who catches the fish, and a retail dealer shall be consid- ered any one who sells fish direct to the con- sumer; provided, however, that any one holding a merchandise license may sell salt- S Florida Salt \Yatei- Fish Laics. cured fish without payment of such retail dealer's license. LICENSE TAX ON BOATS Any and all boats or vessels engaged in the fishing industry in the salt waters of the State, before beginning operations, must first procure a police license from the Com- missioner of Agriculture, and for this pur- pose the owner, captain or agent of such vessel must present in writing to the said Commissioner of Agriculture an application setting forth the name and description of such vessel, name and postoffice of the own- er, the number of nets carried by such boat, and any further data as said Commissioner of Agriculture shall deem necessary, on blanks to be furnished by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and thereupon the Commis- sioner of Agriculture shall register such boat or vessel and shall issue necessary li- cense on payment of cost thereof. All licenses shall be granted to the boat or ves- sel according to the folowing schedule: Boats under 16 feet long and under 4 feet beam, $1.00. Boats over 16 feet long and over 4 feet beam, 20 cents for each additional foot or fraction thereof of length or beam. Provided, that any person paying the above license shall not be required to pay an Florida ISalt Witter Fi.sh Laivs. !) additional license for fishing in any fresh water. ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT BOAT TAX An additional license tax of ten dollars shall be required of all aliens or non-resi- dents of the State of Florida on each boat or vessel engaged in the fishing industry in this State, operated in whole or in part by such alien or non-resident, in addition to the boat license tax required in this section. The failure of any alien or non-resident to secure such additional license for such boats before engaging in the fishing industry in this State will be considered a violation of this Act. ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT FISHING TAX Whoever being an alien or non-resident of this State, and who shall engage in taking fish or oysters from the salt waters of this State for any purpose other than his own individual use, shall be required to pay a license tax of ten dollars per annum. Such alien or non-resident shall make application to the Commissioner of Agriculture over his own signature for such license on blanks fur- nished by the Commissioner of Agriculture, which shall set forth the nationality of such alien or non-resident, local address and such other information as may be required by the Commissioner of Agriculture. 10 Florida Halt Water Fisli Laws. BOAT LICENSE NUMBER The said Commissioner of Agriculture shall give to each licensed vessel or boat a license number, and the owner of such boat or vessel shall at once cause to be painted on each side of the bow of such boat or vessel, in figures at least six inches long and pro- portionate width, in a color distinct and dif- ferent from the body color of the hull, and shall also display said number on the peak of the main sail of such vessel, if the same be a sailing craft, and each figure on said sail shall be at least twelve inches long, of proportionate width, and four inches apart. LICENSE YEAR TAG The Commissioner of Agriculture shall give to each licensed vessel or boat, at actual cost, a metal tag, on which shall be printed the license year for which the same is issued. Such metal tag to be prominently displayed on such boat or vessel. ALL BOATS TO PAY LICENSE TAX Payment of this police license and the compliance with the provisions and regula- tions shall be required of any and all vessels and boats engaged in fishing or freighting fish or otherwise engaged in the fish ijdus try, and all such license tax shall be col- lected by the Shell Fish Commissioner or his duly authorized deputies. Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 11 EXCESS NETS Every boat or vessel shall be entitled to carry and fish one net, and every addi- tional net carried by any boat or vessel in excess of one net the owner of such boat or vessel shall be required to pay a license lax on such excess net of $1.00 per annum, and such excess net shall have attache! to the cork line a metal license tag provided for that purpose, bearing the number of such excess license. The use of pound nets shall be unlawful in the salt waters of the State of Florida. LICENSE TAXES TO BE COLLECTED BY THE SHELL FISH COMMISSIONER All license taxes shall be collected by the Shell Fish Commissioner or a duly author- ized deputy and deposited in some bank des- ignated by the Commissioner of Agriculture until the end of each month, at which time a check shall be drawn against such deposit by the Commissioner of Agriculture in favor of the State Treasurer, who will place same to the credit of the Shell Fish Fund. A monthly report shall be made to the Govern- or of such report and deposit, setting forth the various sources from which such reve- nues are derived, and a copy of such report shall be delivered to the State Treasurer with such remittance. 12 Florida Halt Water Fish Laws. MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL FUND At the end of each calendar month all moneys in the Shell Fish Fund in excess of 110,000 shall be transferred by the State Treasurer from the Shell Fish Fund to the General Fund in the State Treasury, and the State Treasurer shall notify the Com- missioner of Agriculture of the transfer of such excess funds. NO CITY TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL TAX The licenses provided by this section be- ing police licenses exacted by the State in the control of her own property, over which a police control is necessary, no county, city, town or municipality shall impose any fur- ther license tax than herein provided. This provision does not, however, prevent State, county and municipal tax on personalty and realty as now provided by law. LICENSE YEAR The payment of a license tax, or the pro- curing of any license, shall no1 be required of persons fishing only with hook and line or with rod and reel or similar device. Sec. 15. All licenses shall date from October 1st of each year and shall expire on September 30th of the next succeeding year, and shall be issued on blanks or metal tags Florida Salt Water F'ish Laics. 13 provided by the Commissioner of Agricul ture and issued from his office. LICENSE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION Sec. 10. These licenses shall always be subject to inspection by the Shell Fish Com- missioner, his deputies or agents, and shall not be good for any vessel or owner other than that for which issued. RESIDENT DEFINED Sec. 17. No person shall be deemed a resi- dent of this State, in the meaning of this Act, who has not maintained a continuous residence therein for one year, and actually resided therein for six months next preced- ing the time when he makes application for a fishing license. BY WHOM ENFORCED Sec. 18. The Shell Fish Commissioner, or his duly authorized deputies, shall enforce the provisions of this law, and for this pur- pose they are constituted State Police Of- ficers, with full police powers to arrest, without warrant, anyone violating any of the provisions of this Act. The said Shell Fish Commissioner, or his deputies, shall have authority, without warrant, to board and search any vessel or boat, or enter any fish house, warehouse or other building in which fish or nets are kept, which they may have cause to believe that fish taken out of 14 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. season are stored, or that contains illegal nets. BOATS AND PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED See. 19. That the Shell Fish Commission- er shall acquire, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Agriculture, in the name of the State of Florida, such boats, vessels and other property as may be neces- sary to regulate and supervise the enforce- ment of this law and the law relating to the oysters and clams. UNLAWFUL TO RESIST Sec. 20. It shall be unlawful for any per- son or persons to resist or in any manner interfere with the Shell Fish Commissioner, or any of his duly authorized deputies, while engaged in the performance of the duties imposed upon such Shell Fish Com- missioner or his duly authorized deputies by the provisions of this law or Chapter 6532, Laws of Florida, relating to oysters and clams. APPROPRIATIONS Sec. 21. The sum of f 10,000 is hereby ap- propriated to be used in carrying out the provisions of this law, in addition to monies collected by the Shell Fish Commissioner or his duly authorized deputies. The Shell Fish Commissioner shall receive a salary of Florida Salt Wafer Fish Laws. 15 $3,500 per annum, payable monthly out of any funds in the State Treasury not other- wise appropriated, and shall be in full for all services rendered under the provisions of this Act, or as Shell Fish Commissioner under any other law; provided, however, that the Shell Fish Commissioner, before being allowed the use of the appropriation as mentioned in this section, shall give a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $10,- 000, said bond to be approved by the Attor- ney General of the State. AUDITING ACCOUNTS Sec. 22. All accounts, claims and bills of any nature against the fishing industry shall be examined by the Shell Fish Com- missioner, and if found correct, same shall be approved and delivered to the Comptrol- ler, who, upon receipt of any account, claim or bill against the fish industry, approved by the Shell Fish Commissioner, shall issue a warrant drawn on the State Treasury against the Shell Fish Fund, to pay such account, claim or bill. All warrants drawn on said Shell Fish Fund by the Comptroller shall specify the indebtedness such warrants are intended to liquidate in whole or part, which warrant the State Treasurer shall honor and pay out of any monies to the credit of said Shell Fish Fund. 16 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STATES ATTORNEYS Sec. 23. It shall be the duty of the At torney General of the State of Florida and the various State Attorneys or the Prose- cuting Attorney for such county to attend to all legal business arising in connection with the enforcement of this law. COURTS OF EQUITY MAY ENJOIN Sec. 24. The courts of equity of the State of Florida shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Act and of Chapter 6532, Laws of Florida, by writ of injunc- tion. PENALTIES Sec. 25. Anyone violating any of the pro- visions of this Act shall be fined in the sum of not exceeding six hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Sec. 26. All laws and parts of laws, whether general or local in their nature, in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed. Sec. 27. This Act shall take effect imme- diately upon its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved May 25, 1915. SPECIAL SALT WATER FISH LAWS FRANKLIN COUNTY AN ACT to Provide for the Size of Bar and Mesh and Length of Seines Fished or Used in the Salt Waters of Franklin County, Florida, and to Provide Penalties for the Violation of the Same. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Floridas Section 1. That on and after the passage of this Act, seines of one and one-quarter inch bar, measured from knot to knot, or a stretched mesh of two and one-half inches, measured from knot to knot, and of a greater length than three hundred and fifty yards, may be fished or used in the salt waters of the County of Franklin, State of Florida. Sec. 2. Anyone found guilty of fishing or using a seine of a smaller bar or mesh than described in Section 1 of this Act shall be fined in a sum not to exceed six hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprison- ment. Provided, however, that seines or nets may be of smaller bar or mesh that are fished and used exclusively f<»r taking and catching shrimp. Sec. 3. That the Shell Fish Commission* 22 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. er of the State of Florida, or his duly au thorized deputies, shall enforce the provi sions of this Act. Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect imme- diately upon its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved May 29, 1915. PASCO COUNTY AX ACT Prohibiting the Catching of Fish With Nets or Seines in the Lacootee River, or in Any Creek, Bayou or Inlet in Pasco County, Florida. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida : Section 1. That from and after the pas- sage of this Act it shall be unlawful for any person to fish with nets or seines in the Lacootee River, or in any of the creeks, bayous or inlets in Pasco County, Florida. Sec. 2. Any person convicted of violation of the provisions of this Act shall be fined not more than Two Hundred ($200.00) Dol- lars, or imprisonment of not more than ninety days, or both. Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its becoming a law. Approved May 29, 1915. Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. i':: VOLUSIA COUNTY A\ ACT To Establish a Reservation for the Protection and Propagation of and To Regulate the Means and Methods of rap- turing Fish in the Waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), Halifax River, iSpruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Creeks and the Bays and Trib utary Waters Thereof, Lying North of the Town of Hawks Park, Florida, or the 29th Parallel North Latitude, in the Coun- ty of Volusia, State of Florida; To For- bid the Use of Any Nets Whatsoever, Ex- cept the Ordinary Cast Net, and To Pro- vide Penalties for the Violation of the Provisions of Said Act. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida : Section 1. That all waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), Hali- fax River, Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Tieeks, and the Bays and tributary waters thereof, lying north of the Town of Hawks Park, Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North Latitude, in the County of Volusia, State of Florida, are hereby declared a reservation for the protection and propogation of fishes of all kinds. Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firm or corporation to 24 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. capture any of the fish except Flounders, in the waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), Halifax River, Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Creeks and the Bays and tributary waters thereof, lying north of the Town of Hawks Park, Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North Lati- tude, in the County of Volusia, State of Florida, in any other way or with any other appliance than the ordinary cast net, rod and reel, or with hook and line. Sec. 3. That it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firm or corporation to haul, drag, set or use for any purpose whatsoever any seine, haul net, drag net, gill net, stop net or any net of any kind or description whatsoever except the ordinary cast net, in the waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), Halifax River, Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Creeks and the Bays and tributary waters thereof, lying north of the Town of Hawks Park, Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North Lati- tude, in the County of Volusia, State of Florida. Sec. 4. That the Shell Fish Commissioner of the State of Florida, or his duly author ized deputies, shall enforce the provisions of this Act. See. 5. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 25 misdemeanor and punished as provided by law. See. 6. All local laws and parts of local laws, in conflict with the provisions of this Act, be and the same are hereby repealed. Provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall repeal any provisions of the General Act, passed by the Session of the Legisla- ture of 1915, for the protection and regula- tion of the salt water fishing industry of the State; except wherein said General Act is in conflict with this Act. Sec. 7. This Act shall take effect imme- diately upon its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved June 2, 1915. ESCAMBIA COUNTY AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt Water Fishing Industry in the Waters of Bayou Chico. Bayou Grande and Bayou Texar, in Escambia County, Florida, and Providing Penalties for Violation of Same. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida : Section 1. That it shall be unlawful for 26 Florida tialt Water Fish Laws. any person, persons, firm or corporation to fish, haul, drag or set any seine, gill -net, stop-net, haul-net or an} r other kind of net or device for the purpose of catching fish, in the waters of Bayou Chico, Bayou Grande and Bayou Texar, in Escambia County, Florida; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be so construed as to prohibit fishing in said waters during the season allowed by the laws of the State with cast net or the gigging of flounders, or the use of crab-nets for catching crabs, or fishing with hook and line. Sec. 2. The Shell Fish Commissioner of the State of Florida, or his duly authorized deputies, or the Sheriff of Escambia Coun- ty, or any of his deputies, shall enforce the provisions of this Act. Sec. 3. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished accordingly. Sec. 4. All local laws and parts of local laws in conflict with the provisions of this Act be and the same are hereby repealed ; provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall repeal any provisions of the General Act as passed by the session of the Legis lature of 1915, for the protection and regu lation of the salt water fishing industry of the State, except wherein said General Act is in conflict with this Act. Florida Salt Water Fish Luics. n Sec 5. This Act shall take effect imme- diately upon its passage and approval bv i he Governor. Approved .June 4, 1915. ESCAMBIA, SANTA ROSA AND WAL- TON COUNTIES AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt Water Fishing Industry in That Portion of Santa Rosa Sound Known as the "Nar- rows," and Garniers Bayou, Five Mile Bayou, Don Bayou, Niger Bayou and Lit- tle Bayou. Said Bayous Connecting or Tributary to Choctawhatchee Bay, and That Portion of Choctawhatchee Bay Lying West of Township® One and Two South, Range Twenty-two West. Said Waters Being in the Counties of Escam- bia, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, Florida, and Providing Penalty for Viola- tion of This Act. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of tJir State of Florida: Section 1. That it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firm or corporation to fish, drag, haul or set in the waters of Santa 128 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. Rosa Sound, known as the "Narrows," and Garniers Bayou, Five Mile Bayou, Don Bayou, Niger Bayou and Little Bayou, con- necting or tributary to Choetawhatchee Bay, and that portion of Choetawhatchee Bay lying west of Townships One and Two South, Range Twenty-two West, any seine, net, trap, basket or any other device what- ever for the purpose of catching fish. Said waters being and lying in the Counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Walton Coun- ties, State of Florida. Provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall be so con- strued as to prevent fishing in any of the waters named, with a cast-net for catching bait or with hook and line. Sec. 2. The Shell Fish Commissioner of the State of Florida, or his duly authorized deputies, shall enforce the provisions of this Act. Sec. 3. Any person violating the provi sions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided by law. Sec. 4. All local laws and parts of local laws iu conflict with the provisions of this Act be and the same are hereby repealed. Provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall repeal any of the provisions of the General Act, passed by the session of the Legislature of 1915, for the protection and Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 29 regulation of the salt water fishing indus try of the State of Florida. Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect imme- diately upon its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved June 4, 1915. ST. LUCIE COUNTY AN ACT Prescribing the Mesh of Haul ;Seins and Drag Nets To Be Used in St. Lucie County, and Repealing Chapter 5973 of the Acts of 1909, Laws of Florida, as Said Act Relates to St. Lncie County, Florida. Be It Enacted ~by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to take or catch any fish with haul seins or drag nets in any or all of the salt or fresh waters of the County of St. Lucie, the mesh of which shall be less than three and one-half inches stretched measure, that is to say three and one-half inches when brought to a square. Sec. 2. Chapter 5973, Laws of Florida, of the Acts of 1909, are hereby repealed insofar 30 Florida Salt Water Fish Lairs. as said chapter relates to St. Lucie County, Florida. Sec. 3. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of Section 1 shall be punished as prescribed and pro- vided in the General Act for misdemeanors. Sec. 4. All laws or parts of laws in con 7 flict herewith are hereby repealed. Sec. 5. This Act shall go into effect im- mediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved June 4, 1915. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS I II II IM 002 880 389 8 •