SECTION 1. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact, That if any person or persons whomsoever shall be known to hunt in this state on the Sabbath with a dog or dogs, or shall be found off of their premises on the Sabbath, having with him or them a shot-gun, rifle or pistol, he or they shall be subject to indictment; and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine not to exceed fifty dollars at the discretion of the Court, two-thirds of such fine to enure to the benefit of the free public schools in the County of which such convict is a resident, the remainder to the informant.

SEC. 2. That upon failure of such convict to pay the required fine, he shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than three months as the Court, in its judgment, shall direct: Provided, That this act shall not apply to any person who may violate its provision in defence of his own property.

SEC. 3. This act shall take effect from and after March first, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine.