1917 public laws – Ch.290 Sec.7

That section twenty-one of chapter eighty-four, Public Laws of one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, be amended by adding after the word State in line seven of said section, the following: for which may be bought, sold, or held in possession by any person, firm, or corporation in the State; add after the word publication in line nine the words which shall be construed to be once a week for four consecutive weeks in some newspaper in North Carolina, so that said section twenty-one as amended shall read as follows: Sec. 21 The Fisheries Commission Board is hereby authorized to regulate, prohibit, or restrict in time, place, character, or dimensions, the use of nets, appliances, apparatus, or means mployed in taking or killing fish; to regulate the seasons at which the various species of fish may be taken in the several waters of the State, and to prescribe the minimum sizes of fish which may be taken in the said several waters of the State, or which may be bought, sold, or held in possession by any person, firm, or corporation in the State; and such regulations, prohibitions, restrictions and prescriptions, after due publication, which shall be construed to be once a week for four consecutive weeks in some newspaper in North Carolina, shall be of equal force and effect with the provisions of this act; and any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined or imprisoned, at the discretion of the court: Provided, however, that if a petition signed by five or more voters of the district or community which will be affected by the proposed changes is filed with the Fisheries Commission Board through the Fisheries Commissioner, assistant commissioners or inspectors, asking that they have a hearing before any proposed change in the territory, size of mesh, length of net, or time of fishing shall go into effect, petitioning that they be heard regarding such change, the Fisheries Commission Board shall in*that event designate by advertisement for a period of thirty days at the courthouse and three other public places in the county affected, and also by publication in a newspaper of the county, if such is published in said county once a week for two consecutive weeks, a place at which said board will meet and hear argument for and against said change, and may ratify, rescind, or alter this previous order of change as may seem just in the premises; and Provided further, that in making regulations the Fisheries Commission Board shall give due weight and consideration to all fac. tors which will affect the value of the present investment in the fisheries, and that no changes in the existing laws which if they should go into effect immediately would tend to cause fishermen to lose their property shall go into effect until two years from the date that the change has been made by the Fisheries Commission Board.