Animals and Fish - Historical Notes

The following is a listing of acts that at one time affected, but no longer appear to have any effect on, hunting, fishing or animal control in Weakley County. They are included herein for reference purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1889, Chapter 171, was a general State Act making it unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, or trap deer for profit in Tennessee, but all citizens of the State could do so for their own consumption from August 1 to January 1 of each year. It was likewise unlawful to hunt, kill, net, trap, or capture quail or partridges for profit except on one's own land and then only from November 1 until the following March 1. Fines were provided for violators. Many counties, including Weakley County, exempted themselves from the application of this Act.
2. Acts of 1893, Chapter 43, declared it unlawful in the counties of Gibson, Obion, Weakley, Carroll, and Montgomery to place, or to keep, any fish trap or fish dam across any running stream. The fines ranged from $25 to $50.
3. Acts of 1897, Chapter 281, amended Acts of 1895, Chapter 127, a public law for the protection of fish, so as to exclude the counties of Smith, Putnam, and Weakley from its provisions except that it would be unlawful in those counties to catch or kill fish with poison, dynamite, or explosives.
4. Acts of 1897, Chapter 319, made it a misdemeanor to hunt, capture, kill, wound, destroy, or trap, any quail, partridge, pheasant, lark, wild turkey, or wild ducks, in Weakley County from March 1 to November 1 each year. It was unlawful to do those acts at any time except on one's own land. None of the game birds named could be exported from the county.
5. Acts of 1903, Chapter 224, rendered it illegal for sheep, goats, swine, and geese to run at large in Weakley County. Anyone guilty of allowing the same could be fined from $5 to $10. Any damage done by the roaming animals would constitute a lien on them, enforceable as was any other lien by writ of attachment. The person damaged by the trespassing animals could take them up, care for and feed them, and add this cost to the damages under the lien. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1905, Chapter 44.
6. Acts of 1903, Chapter 502, made four barbed wires, securely fastened to posts and stays, a lawful fence in Weakley County, provided the fence was built on good sized, substantial posts, set firmly in the ground, not more than 24 feet apart with good, sound stays at least two inches thick and not more than 8 feet apart. The bottom wire would be 15 inches from the ground, the next 12 inches above the first, the third 12 inches from the second and the fourth 12 inches from the third, all securely fastened to the posts and stays. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1905, Chapter 45.
7. Acts of 1913, Chapter 69, stated that, within five days from the approval of this act, the Election Commissioners of Weakley County would give notice of and hold an election at all polls in the county to ascertain the will of a majority of the voters on the question of a stock law. The ballot would be a simple "For" or "Against" and be uniform in all the precincts. The Commission shall canvass the results of the election and notify the Representative and Senator for Weakley County in the General Assembly, as well as having the vote count published in the local newspaper.
8. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 32, required the Election Commissioners of Weakley County to hold an election to ascertain the will of the people on the issue of a stock law, using simple "For" and "Against" ballots, and setting the election within 25 days of this act. The votes would be canvassed and the official results certified to the Weakley County Representative and Floater, and to the Senator of the 28th State Senatorial District.
9. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 29, stated that the Weakley County Election Commission would hold an election on the question of a stock law for Weakley County, and on the question of a four wire fence being a legal fence. The details were the same as the preceding laws required for canvassing and reporting results.
10. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 93, made it unlawful in Weakley County for any person or persons to shoot, kill, or injure by any method or means whatsoever any quail or partridge except within the times and seasons herein specified. Open season would run from December 15 to the following February 15. Violators could be fined from $5 to $50 with the fines going to the school fund.
11. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 657, declared it illegal in Weakley County for any person
    or persons having control and custody of horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats and swine, or other livestock, to permit the same to run at large in the county. Damages inflicted and the cost of the upkeep and feeding of the animals were made a lien upon them which could be enforced as any other lien.
12. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 384, made it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, in Weakley County, to take, catch, or kill, any fur bearing animal by means of a snare, steel trap deadfall, or any other device, except by dogs and gun. Anyone convicted of the same could be fined from $50 to $100.
13. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 297, declared a closed season in Weakley County for fishing for fish of every kind and character from September 1 to December 1 of each year. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 849.
14. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 738, made it unlawful for a period of three years after the passage of this act for any person to take, capture, or kill, any pheasant or pheasants in Weakley County. Fines for violations ranged from $50 to $100.
15. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 699, stated that any person who had heretofore engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, with or without a license, in Weakley County, for a period of 15 years or more, and who is a person of good moral character, is hereby authorized to continue the said practice in their counties of residence, provided they obtain from the County Court Clerk a certificate of good moral character and file the same with the State Board of Veterinary Examiners. This Act applied only to Weakley County.
16. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 694, declared it to be unlawful in Weakley County for any person to hunt, trap, kill, capture, or otherwise take pheasants of any type, or description. Anyone doing so would be guilty of a misdemeanor and could be punished accordingly. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 283.
17. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 457, stated that it would be legal in Weakley County for any person to kill, or take, bullfrogs at any time of the year and by any means or method. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 284.
18. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 196, authorized the Quarterly Court of Weakley County to elect a livestock inspector to serve for two years whose duty it would be to make an inspection and examination of the livestock in said county and to treat such as may be found ailing so as to reduce the danger of an infectious or contagious disease. The inspector would contract with the owner for his services, the county declaring itself to be exempt from responsibility. The inspector had power to vaccinate all animals. Mack Stalcop was named as the first inspector to serve until September 1, 1958. The Quarterly Court could appoint more than one inspector, if needed. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.