Ninety-eight residents of Norfolk and Princess Anne counties complain about seine hauling during the summer months "as such practices greatly diminish the stock of fish and render the fall fishing unprofitably to the inhabitants of said counties." They propose therefore that the first offense be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars; a second offense would merit a fine of one thousand dollars. They further state that those unable to pay said fine should face a three-month imprisonment for the first offense and six months for the second offense. The petitioners insist that "free coloured persons should be subject to receive thirty nine lashings on their bear backs and six months imprisonment for the first offense." They also assert that "servants caught hauling the seine after the specified time by law without some white person with them, it shall be considered that the seine belongs to the owner of the slaves, and the said owner shall be bound for the above fine and also pay ten dollars for each slave so caught."
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
