A person who makes or creates an artificial pond on his land for the purpose of breeding and cultivating fish or oysters, shall place a written or printed notice of the breeding or cultivating fish or oysters in public places near the pond. It is unlawful for a person to enter in or about the pond to fish, catch, or take away any fish or oysters, or destroy or injure the fish or oysters or break the dam for the purpose of permitting the fish or oysters to escape.

A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years.

A fine, if imposed, shall go one-half to the informer and the other half to the person whose property has been injured. Nothing in this section applies to ponds used as water power for manufacturing purposes.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 28-601; 1952 Code Section 28-601; 1942 Code Section 1771-1; 1932 Code Section 1811; Cr. C. '22 Section 781; Cr. C. '12 Section 764; Cr. C. '02 Section 534; G. S. 1680; R. S. 414; 1872 (15) 161; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 246; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1263.