W. Va. Code § 17-18-13
The proprietor of every ferry shall keep at the same the number and kind of boats, and the number of competent hands prescribed by the order under which such ferry has been or shall be established, or by the order of the public service commission. And it shall be unlawful for the proprietor of any ferry, or any person renting or leasing the same, at any ferry now established, or which may hereafter be established, on the watercourses of West Virginia or along the Ohio River, to engage in the business of ferryman, until he shall have obtained a permit or license from the county court, city, village or town council, or other tribunal in lieu thereof. Before such permit or license shall be granted, the applicant shall present to the authorities vested with the power to grant the same a certificate of good moral character, sober and temperate habits, with the requisite qualifications of a ferryman, together with a bond made payable to the state of West Virginia, in such penalty as the county court, city, village or town council, or other tribunal in lieu thereof, may fix, and with good security to be approved by the same, conditioned for the faithful performance of all duties required by law of such ferryman. And he shall promptly obey the summons given him by the ringing of such ferry bell, and ferry all persons and property during the hours which the county court, city, village, or town council, or other tribunal in lieu thereof, or the public service commission, shall prescribe for the daily ferrying, and he shall also ferry any messenger going for a physician or surgeon, and ferry any physician or surgeon going to or returning from professional calls, also mail carriers and telegraph couriers, at all hours, whenever required to do so, when the rivers are in a condition to ferry over, for which night service, after the usual hours prescribed for daily ferrying, he shall be entitled to double the daily rate of compensation.
W. Va. Code § 17-18-13