Va. Code § 28.2-616: Possession gives no preference as to assignment

Any person in possession of any general oyster-planting ground which has not been assigned according to law shall have no preference as to having it assigned to him. The ground shall be open to the first applicant.Code 1950, § 28-124; 1954, c. 352; 1958, c. 183; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-109(13); 1964, c. 393; 1966, c. 684; 1970, c. 726; 1972, c. 644; 1973, c. 14; 1978, cc. 546, 548; 1980, cc. 34, 609; 1984, c. 259; 1992, c. 836.