H 4485 General Bill, By J.J. Snow and Riser
 A Bill to amend Section 50-13-2015, as amended, Code of Laws of South
 Carolina, 1976, relating to the fish sanctuary in the St. Stephen Rediversion
 Canal, so as to revise the fishing season in the Canal and the locations of
 the areas limited for fishing and provide requirements for the use of motors
 on boats and nets used in herring fishing.

   01/12/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-18
   01/12/94  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-18

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-2015, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE FISH SANCTUARY IN THE ST. STEPHEN REDIVERSION CANAL, SO AS TO REVISE THE FISHING SEASON IN THE CANAL AND THE LOCATIONS OF THE AREAS LIMITED FOR FISHING AND PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF MOTORS ON BOATS AND NETS USED IN HERRING FISHING.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 50-13-2015 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 1263, Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-13-2015. (A) A fish sanctuary is established in the St. Stephen Rediversion Canal between the Corps of Engineers' powerhouse and the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Bridge. It is unlawful for a person to fish in the sanctuary except as provided in this section.

(B) From March first February fifteenth to May first each year, fishing for nongame fish is allowed from the Atlantic Seaboard Coastline Bridge Railroad upstream to a point marked by signs or buoys, or both. This location must be marked by the department determined after consultation with and with the permission recommendation of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Fishing is allowed from six p.m. to twelve midnight. The area otherwise is closed to all fishing and boating activities.

(C) The catch limit is five hundred pounds of fish or one hundred dozen fish a boat a day. Game fish taken must be returned immediately to the water. All fish, except those used for live bait, must be packed in boxes with a one hundred pound capacity before crossing back under the railroad bridge.

(D) No fishing devices may be used except cast nets, dip nets, or drop nets. The diameter of the dip or drop nets used may not exceed six feet. No nets may be operated by the use of mechanical devices such as winches, cranes, or pulleys. The motor of a boat used in herring fishing must be in neutral or turned off at all times a net is in use. The motor must be turned off or placed in neutral before the net or a portion of it is placed in the water. The motor must remain off or in neutral until the entire net is removed from the water. No net may be used which is tied or otherwise affixed or connected to a boat.

(E) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.