SALT WATER FISH LAWS 
“An Act for the protection and propagation of fish, shrimp, 
prawn, oysters, turtles, terrapins, and other crustaceans in this 
State; providing how the same may be taken and caught from 
the salt waters of this State; providing for a license for the tak¬ 
ing and catching of the same; the appointment of special in¬ 
spectors to enforce the provisions of this Act, prescribing their 
duties, and to provide penalties for a violation of this Act, and 
for other purposes.” 
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the 
State of Georgia, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of 
the same, That, from and after the passage of this Act, all of the 
beds of salt waters, bays, rivers, estuaries, and shores of the 
sea, and the waters overlying the same, within this State and 
not already conveyed by special grant or compact, according to 
law, shall continue and remain the property of the State of 
Georgia, and subject to the special provisions of this Act may 
be used in common by the people of this State for the purpose 
of fishing, taking and catching oysters, shrimp, prawn, turtles, 
terrapins and other shell fish, and no grant shall hereafter be 
issued by the county authorities in any county in this State 
to pass any estate, title or interest of the State in or to any 
natural oyster bed, rock or shoal, whether the said bed, rock or 
shoal shall be bare or not, except on compliance with the provi¬ 
sions of this Act. 
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Sec. 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That after the passage of this Act, so far as the authority of the 
said State shall extend, oysters, shrimp, prawn, turtles and 
terrapins, and other crustaceans, found in the salt waters of this 
State, suitable for food, shall be considered fish, and it shall be 
the duty of the Department of Game and Fish, as established 
by the Act of August 21st, 1911, to enforce the laws of the 
State of Georgia for the protection of the same. 
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That after the passage of this Act the said game and fish com¬ 
missioner shall have authority to employ not exceeding three 
inspectors to carry into effect the provisions of the laws of this 
State for the protection of game and fish; said inspectors shall 
receive salaries not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) 
per month, as may be ordered by the commissioner. They shall 
take oath and give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars 
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($1,000.00) for the faithful performance of their duties. These 
inspectors shall have authority to carry out the porvisions of 
this Act, and to arrest persons violating the provisions thereof, 
or of any of the laws of said State covering the protection of 
game and fish. 
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the state game and fish commissioner shall have authority to 
purchase or lease launches for the use of the inspectors, while 
in active service of the department, and for carrying out the 
provisions of this Act. Said state game and fish commissioner 
is hereby empowered and directed to employ such other help 
as he may deem necessary in carrying out the provisions of this 
Act and the other laws of the State for the protection of game 
and fish. Compensation for such services to be paid out of the 
funds derived for the protection of game and fish. 
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That all boats and vessels en¬ 
gaged in taking oysters for purpose of sale from any of the 
beds in this State, whether the same be private or public beds, 
shall before beginning operation, first secure a license from the 
said commissioner of game and fish, and for this purpose the 
owner, captain or agent of said vessel must present in writing 
an application setting forth the name and description of said 
vessel, the name and postoffice address of the owner and captain, 
the number of the crew, and such further data as the com¬ 
missioner shall deem necessary, and thereupon said commissioner 
shall register said vessel and issue necessary license, upon pay¬ 
ment of the cost thereof. All licenses shall be graduated accord¬ 
ing to the oyster carrying capacity of each boat or vessel, and 
shall be as follows: 
A license tax of one dollar per ton or fraction of a ton is here¬ 
by levied on each such vessel or boat of five tons or over net 
register. On all other such boats propelled by sail or power, a 
license tax of five dollars for each boat is hereby levied, and on 
all such skiffs, batteaux, and other boats not propelled by sail 
or power, a license tax of three dollars is hereby levied. 
Licenses shall be issued by the commissioner on blanks, provid¬ 
ed for that purpose. 
The owner of any such vessel desiring to catch or take oysters 
under the provisions of this Act shall first obtain from the com¬ 
missioner of game and fish a license for said boat, and said 
license shall have effect for twelve months from the first day of 
the month in which it is issued, and no vessels shall be used 
for catching and fishing for oysters in the waters of this State, 
unless so licensed. Each license shall state the name of the 
applicant, the name of the vessel, and the license, under the 
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